HOPES have been raised that Falkirk Labour Party can make a fresh start after local members voted for trade unionist Gray Allan as their new chairman.
The election yesterday came amid a renewed call for Ed Miliband to publish the party's internal report on alleged ballot-rigging in order to help the Falkirk branch heal its wounds.
It comes in a week when the BBC's Question Time is due to broadcast from the town.
Mr Allan, a Unison member who is stepping up from the vice-chairmanship of the party, said he hoped his appointment to succeed Stevie Deans would begin the healing process.
Mr Deans, a Unite official, stood down as Falkirk chairman in the wake of the row at Grangemouth, which centred on claims he used company time to do Labour work.
Michael Connarty, who is Labour MP for the neighbouring constituency of Linlithgow and Falkirk East, welcomed Mr Allan's appointment, describing him as a "sound lad", who had loyally stuck by the local party through its troubles. He said the party now needed to "focus on the future".
But Brian Capaloff, a member of Falkirk's executive, complained that the Labour leadership had not been very "impressive" in dealing with the fallout in Falkirk.
He said the party leadership had excluded local party members from its inquiry into the selection battle in the wake of the publication of emails from Mr Deans, which opponents claimed raised fresh questions about alleged attempts to rig the Falkirk candidate selection in favour of a candidate backed by the Unite union.
Mr Capaloff said that despite numerous questions to the party hierarchy, the answers that came back were "absolute zero". "I don't think it's been particularly impressive, personally."
He stressed how there was now a consensus within the Falkirk party that Mr Miliband should publish Labour's internal inquiry.
"It has needed to be published for the last few months. The healing process could have been well and truly started. As it is, it's a boil that's been growing that still needs lancing," he added.
Police Scotland are considering Mr Deans's emails to see if a criminal investigation is needed. It has been suggested they show a link between Unite, the vote-rigging claims, the Scottish Labour Party and Labour's London HQ.
While Mr Miliband has not commented on the emails, he has urged the party to "move on", saying a Westminster candidate will be selected from an all-women shortlist in early December.
Unite has insisted it did nothing wrong and has been a victim of Tory inspired smears.
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