By WILLIAM CLARK
Scottish Political
Correspondent
THERE was a big turn-out of Scottish politicians and trade unionists
yesterday for the funeral mass for Glasgow Central MP Mr Bob McTaggart,
at St Mungo's Church in Townhead.
Over 600 mourners packed the church, in the main ordinary
working-class people from the constituency, paying tribute to an MP who
died while travelling back from Westminster for an Easter break with his
family.
Mr McTaggart, 43, was a former Govan Shipbuilders shop steward and
Glasgow district councillor. The funeral mass was attended by Shadow
Scottish Secretary Mr Donald Dewar, and most of the Scottish Labour
parliamentary group.
All the main political parties will now immediately set in motion the
task of selecting their prospective candidates for what promises to be a
tough battle following on the Govan by-election contest.
Labour's director of organisation, Ms Joyce Gould, or her deputy, and
Scottish organiser Mr Jimmy Allison will meet the Central constituency
executive next week.
Only last month Mr McTaggart, who had been sponsored by the
Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunication and Plumbing Union, claimed
that in a coup at the agm his local constituency party had been taken
over by a grouping intent on mounting a challenge to him at
re-selection.
Ms Ann Henderson, the new convener and a delegate of the National
Union of Railwaymen, is expected to bid for the candidacy. Other names
linked with the seat are Mrs Ann Maguire; district Councillor Charles
McCafferty; Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union official and
Scottish executive member Mr Mike Watson; and former MP, now Strathclyde
Regional Councillor Mrs Helen McElhone.
Under new selection procedures the National Executive Committee of the
Labour Party will ensure that the candidate who emerges will be capable
of withstanding fierce media exposure. At Govan two Militants were
removed from the leet.
The Scottish National Party started its procedures last night at a
meeting of the agenda committee in its search for a candidate capable of
repeating Mr Jim Sillars' stunning success in the contiguous Govan
constituency.
Considerable pressure has already mounted within the party for his
friend, Mr Alex Neil, to give up his candidacy for the Glasgow Euro-seat
to pursue the by-election trail.
Hamilton lawyer Mr Andrew Brophy, who was short-leeted at Govan and
who fought Glasgow Garscadden against Mr Dewar at the General Election,
is regarded as a certain runner along with Motherwell District
Councillor Mrs Kathleen MacAlorum.
Despite all its recent public discussion on the wisdom of pacts the
SDP in Scotland meets tonight and is almost certain to decide to put up
a candidate. It is likely that one of two former west of Scotland
parliamentary candidates will be selected.
Mr Ralph Leishman said: ''My own view is that unless we can reach an
agreement with other centre ground parties then on this occasion we
should fight. Central will provide an ideal opportunity to put forward
the party line and there has been interest expressed. So we have the
resources in terms of people interested and determination.''
The SDP did not stand at Govan and although the Democrats lost their
deposit their candidate, Mr Bernard Ponsonby, proved an excellent
debater and captured much publicity. If the SDP stood aside a second
time it would add fuel to gibes that they are almost non-existent on the
Scottish scene.
The Democrats will meet in Glasgow next Tuesday. Mr Ponsonby, now
their press officer, said that ''in the absence of formal approaches we
will go ahead as per constitution towards a selection''.
The Democrats will send 20 leading party members to the first meeting
of the Scottish Constitutional Convention when it meets in Edinburgh
tomorrow. The party will include all nine MPs, six executive members,
and four women.
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