Glasgow North-East by-election update

Nominations closed yesterday for the Glasgow North East by-election with a mammoth 13 candidates, who in alphabetical order are:

• Charlie Baillie, British National Party
• Willie Bain, Labour
• Eileen Baxendale, Liberal Democrats
• Mev Brown, Independent
• Colin Campbell, The Individuals Labour and Tory (TILT)
• Ruth Davidson, Conservative
• David Doherty, Green Party
• Mikey Hughes
• David Kerr, SNP
• Louise McDaid, Socialist Labour Party
• Kevin McVey, Scottish Socialist Party – Make Greed History
• Tommy Sheridan, Solidarity
• John Smeaton, Jury Team

The seat became vacant over 120 days ago, when former Speaker Michael Martin MP resigned over the MPs’ expenses and his handling, or failure to handle, the scandal. Here is a brief summary of the 13 candidates.

As the fury over Nick Griffin’s appearance on the BBC’s Question Time subsides, he turned up in Glasgow North East today and the BNP candidate, David Baillie, was in the news this weekend for saying that the BNP should remain for whites only.

Willie Bain is the Labour Party candidate, who works in London, but still travels back to his Springburn home each week to fight his first ever election.

Councillor Eileen Baxendale is the Liberal Democrat candidate, and is a former social worker with over 20 years’ experience working all over Glasgow, including some key projects within Glasgow North East itself. Tavish Scott – on his second visit to the seat – and Eileen were yesterday at the Royal Mail’s main sorting office in Springburn criticising both Labour and the SNP for their handling of Royal Mail.

Mev Brown is an independent candidate who stood under the Jury Team banner at the European elections!

Colin Campbell is the candidae for the TILT Party – The Individual Labour & Tory Party.

Former BBC journalist Ruth Davidson is the Conservative Party candidate and has been critical of the Labour party handling of the Territorial Army, as a former TA member herself.

David Doherty is standing for the Green Party. He has previously campaigned for them in the European elections.

Mikey Hughes is standing as an independent. He was the runner up of Big Brother 9 and is a radio presenter for Insight Radio.

David Kerr, another former BBC journalist, is the SNP candidate – although not their first choice, nor their second either! He is the third choice candidate, and Alex Salmond is already playing down their chances.

Louise McDaid is the Socialist Labour candidate.

Kevin McVey is standing for the Scottish Socialist Party and has pledged to forsake the MP’s salary.

Veteran politician Tommy Sheridan is standing for Solidarity, and was co-convener of the Scottish Socialist Party before leaving to form Solidarity.

The Jury Party, founded by a former Tory, has selected John Smeaton – who it has already been rumoured was going to stand down (but obviously not). John found fame as a baggage handler at Glagow Airport when he tackled one of the airport bombers.

* Andrew Reeves is Deputy Director of Campaigns for the Scottish Liberal Democrats. If you want to help Eileen with telephone canvassing or come to Glasgow for a weekend please contact Eileen at , and if you wish to send a donation please make your cheque payable to “Scottish Liberal Democrats” and send to Andrew Reeves, Scottish Liberal Democrats, 4 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5DR.