Councillor Graeme Morrice selected as Labour candidate for Livingston seat

Feb 4 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

WEST Lothian councillor Graeme Morrice has been selected as the Labour candidate for the Livingston seat at the general election.

The 50-year-old won the fight to replace Jim Devine, who was banned from standing again by Labour’s National Executive following a probe into his parliamentary expenses.

Graeme, who was leader of the council for 12 years, was the overwhelming choice of local party members, beating competition from fellow Councillor John McGinty, Gordon Connolly, a senior manager for the council's community facilities, and London-based former Commons worker Adenike Abimbola-Akindele.

Around 150 members of Livingston Constituency Labour Party attended a meeting on Sunday where each candidate was given 10 minutes to speak followed by 15 minutes of questions and answers.

An election was held using the single transferable vote system and the Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh councillor won over 50 per cent support in the first vote to take the candidacy.

Morrice told the Courier: “I am delighted to be selected as the overwhelming choice to fight this seat for Labour. West Lothian is my home and has been for almost all my life and it is an absolute honour and privilege to seek election as the MP for the area.

“I have served as the leader of the council and understand our area well. I live in the constituency and I have been actively involved within West Lothian since I first joined the Labour Party in 1979.

“I have been involved in 43 elections and by-elections since I was first elected as a councillor. The ward I currently represent coversa fifth of the constituencyalready.

“I hope to use my experience to good effect to represent the people of the constituency if I am lucky enough to be elected as their MP. I will be out working hard with my campaign team in the coming days and look forward to meeting as many local residents as possible before polling day.”

Graeme has been a councillor for 22 years and while leader of the local authority in 2006 it was voted UK council of the year.