The Labour Party in Blackpool: Deals rejected

The idea that Labour should stand aside in hopeless parliamentary seats where Liberal Democrats would be more likely to oust Tories - the scenario proposed by Sir David Steel, the Liberal Democrat elder statesman - was rejected yesterday by a senior figure in his own party.

Menzies Campbell, MP for Fife NE and Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, told a Labour conference fringe debate on the re-alignment of the left and centre: 'I don't think any central party organisation has the right to say to any local party 'you should not stand to this constituency to allow some other party a better chance'.'