Moffat's future as a candidate goes to vote

EAST Lothian Labour MP Anne Moffat faces a vote of local party members on whether to drop her as their candidate in the General Election.

Labour's national executive committee yesterday agreed by 24 votes to four to a request for an all-member meeting in East Lothian to decide on deselection.

It follows long-running tensions which saw the local party suspended in 2008 and national officials sent in to try to repair relationships.

But in January this year, the local party's general council voted 25-5 to re-open the selection process, claiming Ms Moffat had lost the confidence of members.

With the General Election expected on 6 May, time is now tight to resolve the issue.

Local party officials must give seven days' notice of the all-member meeting, which will vote on a motion that Ms Moffat should not be the candidate. If the motion is carried, Ms Moffat will have the right of appeal to the NEC.