Labour suffers by-election confusion

Labour suffered a weekend of confusion after the withdrawal of the party's likely candidate for the crucial Glasgow East by-election.

Local councillor George Ryan said he was pulling out to prevent "pressures" on his family life.

Ryan had been expected to win nomination at selection meeting on Friday, but failed to turn up for the event.

The prime minister acted quickly to draft in a replacement with Margaret Curran - currently a Glasgow MSP - announcing she was adding her name to the shortlist.

A final decision on the candidate is expected to be taken tomorrow evening.

Labour's political opponents said the confusion showed the party was "rudderless".

First minister Alex Salmond said the SNP was off to a "flying start" with its candidate, John Mason.

"Labour, by contrast, are in complete meltdown - both locally and nationally.

"This is their 'lost weekend' - they don't have a leader in Scotland, they don't have a candidate in Glasgow East, and they have a prime minister who refuses to come to the constituency."

Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Golide said Labour was "rudderless at Westminster, leaderless at Holyrood and treating the people of Glasgow with contempt".

The by-election was sparked by the resignation on health grounds of David Marshall.

With a majority of 13,500 the constituency is Labour's third safest Scottish seat, but the Scottish National Party is hoping to pull off a surprise victory.