LABOUR CAMPAIGN IN CHAOS AS MPS VOTE AGAINST POLL DATE

LABOUR CAMPAIGN IN CHAOS AS MPS VOTE AGAINST POLL DATE

CONSTITUENCY NOW WITHOUT AN MP FOR 6 MONTHS

Labour MPs have today (Tuesday) voted against setting a date for the
Glasgow North East by-election after the SNP attempted to have the writ
for the poll moved to allow voters the chance to elect a new MP.

SNP Chief Whip Stewart Hosie MP forced a debate and vote on the issue but
the motion – which would have mandated the House of Commons Speaker to set
a date for the poll – was overwhelmingly voted against by the Labour
benches.

Glasgow North East has been without an MP since former Speaker Michael
Martin stood down on 21st June. By convention, the writ would be moved by
the Labour party, but the party has made no attempt to set a date despite
today being the last business day before recess. In contrast, voters in
Norwich go the polls this Thursday to elect a new MP just 48 days after
the former Labour MP resigned.

Commenting, SNP Westminster Chief Whip Stewart Hosie MP said:

“Labour has had every opportunity to call this by-election but they are
clearly running scared of people in Glasgow North East and their campaign
is in total chaos.

“The sight of Labour MPs trooping through the lobbies to deny people in
Glasgow the chance to vote for a new MP is simply unforgivable. These
Labour MPs should be named and shamed for putting their party interests
before the people of Glasgow.

“Conventionally, and practically, it is the majority party at Westminster
who move the writ for a by-election but, as we reached the end of the
Parliamentary term, Labour has refused to do this and so the SNP moved to
give people in Glasgow their say.

“Labour were clearly caught on the hop by the move – first objecting to a
date being set and then voting against it. Labour’s pitiful excuse that
constituents did not want a poll over the Glasgow Fair is ridiculous. Even
on the shortest possible timetable, a by-election called today would not
take place before the 20th of August - by which time the Glasgow Fair will
have been over for weeks and schools will already be back.

“The long and short of it is that Labour are putting Gordon Brown’s
interests before the needs of people in Glasgow and people will see that
for what it is.”

SNP Glasgow North East candidate David Kerr added:

“If voters in Norwich can elect a new MP within weeks of their old
representative standing down, then voters in Glasgow deserve nothing less.

“With the threat over Diageo jobs at Port Dundas, not to mention the
closure threat over local schools by the Labour local authority now, more
than ever, people in Glasgow North East need an MP who will speak up for
local interests.”