Labour MP backs joint party move

Changes in the way votes are made prompted the idea

A Labour MP has defended plans which could result in the Liberal Democrats being sidelined as future potential coalition partners at Holyrood.

Under a proposal floated by Ian Davidson, the Co-operative Party would seek list seats at the 2007 Scottish elections as a party in its own right.

The idea emerged from a meeting in Renfrew between Labour councillors, unions and MPs.

Mr Davidson is currently the Labour MP for Glasgow Pollok.

He said: "Trustworthy and reliable Co-operative Party members would be far better coalition partners than unreliable and shifty Liberals."

Dislike of PR

Mr Davidson said the meeting also reflected unhappiness that proportional representation at Holyrood - the list system, which is intended to counterbalance the effect of first-past-the-post voting - had created a situation where Labour had to sign a deal with the Liberal Democrats.

Under the present arrangement, said Mr Davidson, a list vote for Labour was effectively wasted across much of Scotland, as the party's dominance in first-past-the-post votes in areas like Glasgow all but guaranteed it would win no list seats there.

His blueprint would see the Co-operative Party, but not Labour, fielding list candidates in those areas, while in areas like north east Scotland or the Highlands it would be for Labour Party members to decide whether to field list candidates or not.

Mr Davidson's proposal stems from dislike of PR and the fact that Labour has had to accept voting reform in local government at the insistence of Liberal Democrats.