-First candidate Ryan cites 'pressures' for withdrawal
-Glasgow leader Purcell and McAveety refuse
-Curran is 'deeply committed' to fighting by-election
-Rivals claim Labour campaign is shambles

By Paul Hutcheon, Scottish Political Editor

Scottish Labour's attempt to win the Glasgow East Westminster by-election and save Gordon Brown's job has suffered a humiliation after it emerged the party was about to select its fourth-choice candidate.

Margaret Curran, already an MSP in the city, is likely to become Labour's pick to fight the crucial contest in Glasgow - but only after three others knocked back the job.

Councillor George Ryan walked away from the candidacy on Friday, while local authority leader Stephen Purcell and local MSP Frank McAveety both turned down appeals to stand.

Curran has also left herself open to accusations that she will be a part-time MP after it became clear she has no immediate plans to resign her MSP post.

The shambolic developments follow a chaotic week for Labour after the resignation of sitting Glasgow East MP David Marshall, prompting a by-election that could determine Brown's future as prime minister.

Curran, presently an MSP who represents a large chunk of Glasgow East at Holyrood, has agreed at the 11th hour to put her name forward as the Labour candidate ahead of the re-arranged selection meeting tomorrow.

However, this was only after the favourite to win the Labour nomination, local councillor George Ryan, shocked his party by declining to show up for the selection contest on Friday night.

His unexplained withdrawal prompted party bosses to plead with Glasgow City Council leader Purcell to stand, an overture that was rebuffed.

The Labour hierarchy then approached Glasgow Shettleston MSP Frank McAveety about a possible candidacy, but he too declined the offer. It was only after Scottish Labour received at least three knockbacks - ex party general secretary Lesley Quinn is also said to have been approached - that Curran agreed to put her name forward.

The farce means that Labour has started its most crucial by-election in decades without a candidate in place.

Curran is expected to win the nomination and put up the fight against the SNP's attempt to overturn a 13,500 Labour majority when the poll is held on July 24.

The by-election has national significance as defeat for Labour would put pressure on Gordon Brown to stand down as prime minister.

A loss in Glasgow would be taken as a sign that Brown cannot even win seats in Labour's Scottish heartland.

But Curran, who was tipped as a contender to replace Wendy Alexander as Labour's Holyrood leader, is expected to be criticised for wanting to "double up" as an MP and an MSP.

It is expected that the former communities minister will not give up her Holyrood post immediately, which will lead to accusations that Curran will be a part-time MP.

Labour sources suggested, however, that she would only draw one salary and work from one office.

Curran said: "I am putting my name forward for the Labour nomination as Labour candidate for the by-election. I have decided to do this because I'm deeply committed to the communities of the east end of Glasgow."

Her last-minute bid to become a candidate followed Ryan pulling out of the race on Friday for family reasons.

In a statement released yesterday, he said: "It is with regret that I have today removed my name from the shortlist of potential candidates. In the last 24 hours, I have come to recognise the pressures that this campaign would put on my family life and I have taken the decision to put my family first."

Meanwhile, the race to succeed Wendy Alexander as Holyrood leader is set to include at least two candidates.It is understood East Lothian MSP Iain Gray and party deputy leader Cathy Jamieson are certain to stand, while East Kilbride MSP Andy Kerry has yet to declare his intentions.

Hamilton South MSP Tom McCabe, a former finance minister, is also being urged to stand by a number of councillors and colleagues at Holyrood.
Glasgow Cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon is also in the frame, while Eastwood MSP Ken MacIntosh has taken soundings about a possible bid.

First Minister ALex Salmond said: "The bizarre twists and turns in Labour's candidate selection shambles are chaos theory in action. They are scrabbling around trying to find someone - anyone - who is either able or willing to be their candidate. Labour are treating the people of Glasgow East with contempt - and the people will have their say on July 24."