Ian Murray is early front-runner in race to fight Nigel Griffiths seat

LABOUR councillor Ian Murray has emerged as an early front-runner to fight Nigel Griffiths' Edinburgh South seat, following his decision to stand down.

Cllr Murray, who represents Liberton and Gilmerton, said he was "seriously considering" putting himself forward as the party's Westminster candidate.

He has already won the support of many of his colleagues. Several other potential candidates have already ruled out the possibility of standing.

Mr Griffiths' decision was a shock to many party members, with just four months before the expected date of the general election on 6 May.

The long-serving MP has denied his decision has anything to do with a high-profile sex scandal in 2008.

The constituency is one of the most marginal in the UK, with Labour beating the Liberal Democrats by just 405 votes in 2005.

Cllr Murray said: "I've not made any decision about it but my phone has been red hot with people encouraging me to stand. I'm seriously considering it. I don't think it's a lost cause. There's no harder working Member of Parliament than Nigel and people respect that."

He has already won the support of fellow Labour councillors, including Norma Hart and Paul Godzik, whose wards are in Edinburgh South. They have both ruled out standing themselves, as has former council leader Donald Anderson, who fought the seat at the last Holyrood election.

Possible contenders include Ann Henderson, the local party secretary and assistant secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, who said she had not made a decision yet.

Catriona Munro, a lawyer who narrowly lost the Edinburgh East nomination to Sheila Gilmore, did not want to comment.

Former council leader Ewan Aitken said: "We're all a bit blown away by Nigel's decision. Nigel worked very hard and I think we've got a good record, but it's going to be tough."

Lib Dem candidate Fred Mackintosh said: "We can't be complacent but I think this will be damaging for their campaign."

Dr Neil Hudson, who will be the seat's Conservative candidate said: "We already have more councillors than the Lib Dems in this seat and are the only real challengers to Labour."

Many local Labour members are angry at Mr Griffiths' decision just a few months before the election. Some had wanted him to stand down last year following stories about a "sex romp" in his Commons office.

One party member said: "The opposition parties have had literally years to raise the profile of their candidates in the area. He has left us with two or three months. It is utterly selfish."

Mike Pringle, the Lib Dem MSP for Edinburgh South, said: "It will be Nigel's fault if they lose, particularly if they lose the seat badly. But it won't look good for any candidate if they take Labour from first to third place."