Michael Marra selected in Dundee West

Michael Marra has been selected to contest the seat of Dundee West for the Scottish Labour Party. His selection comes after Jim McGovern unexpectedly announced his decision to retire last week, citing health problems.

With such a short timeframe, an open application was announced, with the National Executive Committee making the final decision.

McGovern had been MP for the seat for 10 years, and leaves behind a majority of 7,278. However, it will be an uphill struggle for Marra: dubbed “Independence City” during the referendum due to its support for a Yes vote, Dundee does not look like a positive prospect for Labour in May. It has returned a Labour MP in every election since 1950, but a poll in the constituency carried out by Lord Ashcroft in January showed Labour trailing the SNP by 34 points.

Reacting to the news of his selection, Marra said:

“I’ve lived and worked in Dundee for most of my life and am proud to be raising my family in the city. It is a tremendous honour to be chosen to represent Labour at a General Election for the constituency where I was born and raised. I’ve been a member of Dundee Labour Party since I was a teenager and campaigned on behalf of our previous Labour MPs, Ernie Ross and Jim McGovern.

I’m sorry that ill health has forced Jim to stand down as the candidate but my pledge to our members in Dundee West is that I will do my very best to keep this seat in Labour hands.””

You can follow Michael on Twitter here.