Socialists back Gentle candidacy

Rose Gentle (centre) will stand on an anti-war ticket in East Kilbride

The Scottish Socialist Party is to withdraw one its election candidates to back independent Rose Gentle, who is standing on an anti-war ticket.

Mrs Gentle is contesting East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow against Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram in a bid to bring troops home from Iraq.

Her son, Gordon, was killed in Iraq last summer and she has campaigned against the conflict ever since.

The SSP is behind her and has withdrawn candidate Cathy Pederson as a result.

Mrs Gentle's 19-year-old son Pte Gentle was serving with the Royal Highland Fusiliers when he was killed by a roadside bomb in Basra just weeks after completing his training.

Who does what - Westminster or Holyrood?

Since then the 40-year-old Glaswegian mother has frequently spoken out against the war and last week launched her candidacy alongside her Justice for Gordon Gentle Campaign.

We will be enthusiastically campaigning to hold Adam Ingram to account for the lies, death and destruction resulting from the Iraq war. Cathy Pederson SSP candidate

At that time, Mrs Gentle called on all other candidates opposed to the Iraq war to stand down to enable her to compete against the minister alone.

Following her decision, Labour candidate Mr Ingram said he was ready for the election fight and that such challenges were the nature of democracy in action.

The SSP has now taken up her plea and made the move after the party agreed to stand down and back her campaign.

The constituency now becomes the only one in Scotland where the party will not contest a seat at Westminster.

Party politics

Former candidate Ms Pederson said: "The party locally and nationally has tremendous admiration for the principles and courage of Rose Gentle in her campaign to bring the troops home from Iraq.

"We will be enthusiastically campaigning to hold Adam Ingram to account for the lies, death and destruction resulting from the Iraq war."

The Save the Scottish Regiments campaign has also said it plans to put up a candidate in the seat.

The following candidates are also set to stand as candidates for the seat: Douglas Edward, Scottish National Party; Tony Lewis, Conservative; John Oswald, Liberal Democrats and Kirsten Robb, Scottish Green Party.

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