Labour leader ‘completely up’ for by-election
The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has declared that his party can win back the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, in the event of any by-election.
Mr Starmer made the comments while holding a virtual Zoom meeting with constituents last week.
Sitting MP Margaret Ferrier has been urged to resign by numerous SNP members, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the party’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford.
Ms Ferrier has also had the party whip removed, but has not yet offered any indication if she will stand down.
If she was to quit, a by-election would be held, with all signs indicating the Labour party would be strongly targeting the seat, which it last held from 2017 to 2019 with Ged Killen.
Mr Starmer said:“I’ve been listening to her constituents this afternoon on a virtual event and they’re furious with her, they think it’s completely inappropriate that she’s continuing as an MP.
“She needs to listen to that and step down. It’s a huge error of judgment on her part not to have done so.
“We’re completely up for it, we’re preparing for it, there should be a by-election because she should step down. We’ve won it in the past, we won it in 2017 and we can win it again but we need that by-election because it’s the right thing to do.”
Ferrier won back the constituency with a majority of 5240 last December.
Former MP Ged Killen has already indicated he would be interested in standing again if a by-election took place.
Mr Starmer’s meeting saw him quizzed by locals on what he hopes to achieve with the Labour party.
He was told by one voter, called Elaine, that Labour were considered“a joke”, in reference to ongoing rows over the future of Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard.
She said:“I think when you look at it in Scotland just now it is just an absolute joke.
“They are all in-fighting. Apparently there is something going on and they are trying to get rid of the leader just now. It is just so disheartening.”
Mr Starmer reiterated his support for the union during the meeting, while he also answered questions on topics such as transgender rights.
He added:“I do believe that all of the nations of the United Kingdom are better off together and we shouldn’t be pulling apart, creating differences between us across borders.”