New Edinburgh South Candidate won't help Labour

9.25.37am GMT Mon 1st Feb 2010

Commenting on the news that Labour MP Nigel Griffiths is to stand down at the election after 23 years in the House of Commons Edinburgh South Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesman Fred Mackintosh said, "Although Nigel has obviously been a long standing and hard working MP the reality is that Edinburgh has been badly let down by Labour.

"A lot of people I speak to on the doorsteps say that the Labour Government's position has simply become untenable and there needs to be real change in Edinburgh South. We have had 23 years of the Government line from Nigel, Edinburgh South now needs a local champion not another government yes man. After finishing only 405 votes behind Nigel Griffiths in 2005 leaving the Conservatives thousands of votes behind in third place only the Liberal Democrats can deliver the real change that Edinburgh South needs."

In 2007 the Liberal Democrats won more Scottish Parliament Constituency votes in the Edinburgh South Westminster Constituency than any other party and the Tory candidate came fourth in the Scottish Parliament constituency that makes up 83% of the Edinburgh South at Westminster.