Tom Griffin (London, OK): The Scottish press is full of speculation this weekend that former First Minister Henry McLeish has been sounded out for the Labour candidacy in the Glenrothes by-election.
The Sunday Times reports:
Senior party figures are alarmed that Henry McLeish, the former first minister who resigned in disgrace in 2001, has emerged as a frontrunner for the vacant Glenrothes seat, following the death of John MacDougall, the Labour MP, last week.
Some local activists and members of the British government believe McLeish may be the party’s only hope because he is a popular figure locally, having represented the area as an MP and MSP.
McLeish's cordial relationship with the SNP has seen him dubbed a 'virtual nat' by some. Along with his recent comments on Labour's direction, this may yet count against him, as former Scottish Lib Dem leader Jim Wallace notes:
what may also spike a McLeish candidacy is his unequivocal call for the Scottish Labour party to enjoy much greater autonomy from Westminster, and for the party's new leader in Scotland (or, to be strictly accurate, the leader of the Labour group in the Scottish Parliament) to have much wider authority than at present. Given the divisions which this issue causes, especially between Labour MPs and MSPs, journalists would have a field day asking visiting MPs, ministers, and even the Prime Minister, whether they support their candidate's view on this key internal issue.
In contrast to some other reports, the Sunday Mail suggests McLeish has already ruled himself out of the running. It also claims that another former First Minister, Jack McConnell, will step down from the Scottish Parliament in the spring.
a source close to McConnell revealed he will stand down from his Motherwell and Wishaw seat next spring.
The source said: "The High Commissioner's job becomes available next year. Jack fully intends to take up the post next spring."
Labour face a difficult challenge in Glenrothes. Defeats there and in Lanarkshire would pile the pressure on Gordon Brown to stand down as PM.
The Glenrothes by-election is expected to take place on a date between 11 September and 4 December. Martin Kettle backs those in the Labour Party who argue for an early poll that would clear the way for Brown's autumn relaunch.
Iain MacWhirter does not:
My own view, for what it's worth, is that Brown would be mad to go for an early by-election, since the likely defeat would simply provide a springboard for the foreign secretary, David Miliband, to launch a leadership challenge at the Labour conference in Manchester in late September. Delaying allows Brown to call for a show of unity in Manchester in the interests of winning Glenrothes for Labour. Delay, delay and fight another day.
Labour would have to show an unwonted ruthlessness, or desperation, to defenestrate Brown during a by-election in the constituency neighbouring his own. Yet, with the result likely to weaken him further, a clear resolution of Labour's leadership crisis may only have been postponed.
