Canavan re-applies for Labour membership

Dennis Canavan, the rebel MP who defied the Labour Party to win a seat in the Scottish Parliament, today announced that he will be applying to rejoin his former party.

Dennis Canavan, the rebel MP who defied the Labour Party to win a seat in the Scottish Parliament, today announced that he will be applying to rejoin his former party.

Mr Canavan said: "As a result of the discussions I have had over the past couple of weeks, I am now led to believe that reconciliation is a distinct possibility and I therefore submitted an application to rejoin the Labour Party."

The Falkirk West MP told a press conference in his constituency that his application for membership would be considered by a sub-committee of Labour's ruling national executive on November 20.

Mr Canavan held Falkirk West for Labour in 1997 but later broke from the party after it refused to select him for the Scottish Parliamentary elections, standing and winning as an independent.

He had spoken of resigning his Westminster seat and creating a by-election - which would have left Labour facing a tough battle to hold the consitiuency - but now seems likely to retain the seat if re-admitted to the Labour fold.