Scottish Labour has today published its full list of General Election candidates, with a 50:50 gender split.
A selection panel led by leader Kezia Dugdale has selected 29 women and 29 men to contest every seat in Scotland not currently represented by the party.
The panel was made up of seven members of the Scottish Executive Committee, including trade union and Constituency Labour Party (CLP) members, and every decision was taken unanimously.
Many of the candidates are standing in an election for the first time, and reflect the diversity of 21st century Scotland.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said:
“I’m delighted to unveil our list of candidates for the General Election, and as a co-founder of Women 50:50 I’m thrilled we have achieved gender balance.
Women are under-represented at almost every level of power in Scotland and by locking out that experience and talent we are putting limits on our nation’s potential.
This announcement sends a powerful signal about the Labour Party’s commitment to gender equality, and I hope other parties will now follow our lead.
Every single candidate selected for the General Election will be a champion for their local constituency, not a cheerleader for an unwanted second independence referendum.
Only Labour can defeat the SNP in seats across Scotland, and by voting Labour in this election we can send Nicola Sturgeon a message that we don’t want another divisive referendum.
There are only two outcomes on June 8: a Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn that will work for the many not the few; or a miserable Tory government led by Theresa May that will continue with abhorrent policies such as the rape clause.”
The full list of General Election candidats for Scottish Labour:
Aberdeen North Orr Vinegold
Aberdeen South Callum O’Dwyer
Airdrie & Shotts Helen McFarlane
Angus William Campbell
Argyll & Bute Michael Kelly
Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock Carol Mochan
Banff & Buchan Caitlin Stott
Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk Ian Davidson
Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross Olivia Bell
Central Ayrshire Nairn McDonald
Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill Hugh Gaffney
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth & Kirkintilloch East Elisha Fisher
Dumfries & Galloway Daniel Goodare
Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale Douglas Beattie
Dundee East Lesley Brennan
Dundee West Alan Cowan
Dunfermline & West Fife Cara Hilton
East Dunbartonshire Callum McNally
East Kilbride, Strathaven & Lesmahagow Monique McAdams
East Lothian Martin Whitfield
East Renfrewshire Blair McDougall
Edinburgh East Patsy King
Edinburgh North & Leith Gordon Munro
Edinburgh South Ian Murray
Edinburgh South West Foysol Choudhury
Edinburgh West Mandy Telford
Falkirk Craig Martin
Glasgow Central Faten Hameed
Glasgow East Kate Watson
Glasgow North Pam Duncan
Glasgow North East Paul Sweeney
Glasgow North West Michael Shanks
Glasgow South Eileen Dinning
Glasgow South West Matt Kerr
Glenrothes Altany Craik
Gordon Kirsten Muat
Inverclyde Martin McCluskey
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey Mike Robb
Kilmarnock & Loudoun Laura Dover
Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath Lesley Laird
Lanark & Hamilton East Andrew Hilland
Linlithgow & Falkirk East Joan Coombes
Livingston Rhea Wolfson
Midlothian Danielle Rowley
Moray Joanne Kirby
Motherwell & Wishaw Angela Feeney
Na h-Eileanan an Iar Ealasaid MacDonald
North Ayrshire and Arran Chris Rimicans
North East Fife Rosalind Garton
Ochil & South Perthshire Joanne Ross
Orkney & Shetland Robina Barton
Paisley & Renfrewshire North Alison Taylor
Paisley & Renfrewshire South Alison Dowling
Perth & North Perthshire David Roemmele
Ross, Skye & Lochaber Peter O’Donnghaile
Rutherglen & Hamilton West Ged Killen
Stirling Chris Kane
West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine Barry Black
West Dunbartonshire Jean-Anne Mitchell
My congratulations to those selected, many of whom are young. I fundamentally disagree with a 50/50 gender split, however. Candidates should be selected on merit alone. The Conservative Party have had two female leaders. We have had zero. Equality of opportunity should not be trumped solely by equality of outcome.
Hasn’t the Scottish Labour Branch Office party had two female leaders?
Haven’t Mrs La Mont and Mz Dugdale done really, really well?
Bricks without straw, or is it speech without content? I’m never very sure.
Perhaps Tony Blair or Lord Baron Darling can help out. They move in the same social millieu. Power and money.
” Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp………………!
Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free.”
Labour should release these poor named wretched candidates, to get on with their lives and day jobs, and not gull them with a task beyond their capacity or ability.
Releasing – or binding – them is the electorate’s job.
As for being wretched, this is actually refreshing. Only one of the defeated MPs from 2015 is running again. Too bad they’re not on a Holyrood-style list.
Has Caitlin Stott ever even visited Banff and Buchan before?
I assume she is nothing more than a paper candidates
Congrats to all of them on putting their name forward. In Central Ayrshire Nairn MacDonald will be a great candidate