Sheridan hails his 'little rebel'

TOMMY Sheridan, the SSP MSP, was yesterday celebrating the birth of his first child, Gabrielle.

The baby arrived a day early, leading her father to dub her a "little rebel" and forcing her mother to endure a few hours of labour before giving birth by elective Caesarean as she had planned.

Gail Sheridan had opted for the controversial method of giving birth not because she was "too posh to push", she said, but because she was "too smart to suffer".

The baby, however, had other plans. At tea-time on Monday, Mrs Sheridan went into labour and endured six hours of pain before the child was delivered by Caesarean section at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow just before midnight on Monday night. The baby weighs 5lb 15oz.

Yesterday Mrs Sheridan, 41, said her brief experience of labour pains convinced her of the wisdom of her choice: "I’m so glad I choose an elective C-section. I can’t quite believe all the fuss it’s caused, but those few hours of labour were enough for me."

Mr Sheridan said he was delighted. "For the first time in my life I’m almost speechless. She came early, which just goes to show that she’s a little rebel. I’m so proud of Gail."