McKechin could be reshuffle victim as rules on shadow cabinet are revised

LABOUR MPs are “queuing up” to demand that shadow Scottish Secretary Ann McKechin is moved from her job because they believe she is not up to taking on the SNP, The Scotsman has learned.

Ms McKechin could be one of the first victims of a shadow cabinet reshuffle after new rules on how members are appointed are agreed by the party’s national executive over the weekend.

Under the old rules MPs elected the shadow cabinet in opposition and the leader allocated them jobs, with at least six women in the team, but the changes will mean that Mr Miliband can choose his own frontbench.

The reform has led to strong lobbying by Scottish MPs who have made it clear that they believe Ms McKechin is “too low profile” and “not providing the necessary leadership”.

One MP described the situation as “outright rebellion”, adding: “Ann is just not cutting it.”

Another said that the only thing that might save her is “the need to keep a gender balance in the shadow cabinet.”

The MP said: “Ann is very thoughtful and very intelligent, but we don’t need a cerebral person in this job we need somebody who can take the fight to the SNP and the coalition.

“She might fare better as shadow international development secretary, but she hasn’t got the fight or the profile for shadow Scottish Secretary.”

Ms McKechin appears to be absorbing some of her colleagues’ frustration over the heavy defeat in the Holyrood elections in May and there are concerns that she is not the right person to prepare for the referendum campaign.

Similar accusations had been levelled against the Lib Dem Scottish Secretary Michael Moore who has noticeably upped his game in the past few weeks. Meanwhile Ms McKechin’s deputy, Tom Greatrex, a former Scotland Office special adviser who was elected as an MP in 2010, is being touted as her successor.

One Labour source said: “Tom definitely wants the job.”

Another contender is Glasgow East MP Margaret Curran who was a minister in Holyrood and has come to prominence in her work and pensions brief.

The third name being mentioned is Stirling MP Ann McGuire who is currently parliamentary private secretary to Mr Miliband.

Last night a source close to Ms McKechin dismissed the discussion on her future as “pure speculation”.

Meanwhile one of the new Labour MPs, Glasgow Central’s Anas Sarwar, is understood to be considering a bid for the deputy leadership of the Scottish party, standing against Aberdeen MSP Lewis Macdonald.