Selection of Labour candidate leaves local party in turmoil

Following the selection of Pamela Nash as the Labour candidate for Airdrie and Shotts, the chairman of the CLP, Brian Brady, resigned his post, citing that his resignation was 'because the voting pattern showed that this had not represented the view of the majority of the CLP.'

There is no need to repeat what can be read elsewhere, but suffice to say that internal fractions within the Labour Party can only be damaging for Ms. Nash.

Traditionally a Labour safe seat, the SNP did a fine job of exploiting Labour weaknesses to cut the majority to little over 1,400 at the Scottish parliamentary elections.

This fracture within the Labour Party, combined with the selection of an inexperienced candidate have presented an opportunity for the SNP to capitalise.