Livingstone candidates announced

The candidates contesting the Scottish seat of Livingston at the by-election later this month have been announced.


Former Labour foreign secretary Robin Cook held the seat for 22 years until his early death last month prompted the calling of a by-election on September 29th.

His former election agent and friend, Jim Devine, will defend Labour's 13,000 majority in the first such poll since the general election in May.

"No one wanted to be fighting this by election, least of all me. We would all rather that Robin was still here to represent the people of West Lothian as well as he did for two decades," Mr Devine said.

The Scottish National party, who came second at the last election with 21.5 per cent of the vote, are again fielding local councillor Angela Constance.

Charles Dundas, deputy leader Sir Menzies Campbell's agent, has been reselected to stand for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, who last time took 15.5 per cent of the vote.

And last night the Scottish Conservatives, who got just over ten per cent of the vote in May, announced West Lothian advocate Gordon Lindhurst would be standing as their candidate.

The Scottish Greens have selected David Robertson for what will be the first time they have stood in Livingston in a Westminster election.

Former army officer Peter Adams will represent the UK Independence party, while the Scottish Socialist party has chosen Steven Nimmo as their candidate.

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