Date set for Glasgow by-election

The election comes after Michael Martin's resignation

The Glasgow North East by-election, which was forced by the resignation of former Commons speaker Michael Martin, is to take place on 12 November.

Mr Martin stood down as Speaker of the House of Commons in June.

Labour, the Scottish National Party, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have already chosen their candidates to contest the seat.

Glasgow North East is one of seven constituencies covering the area of Glasgow City Council.

Labour has selected Willie Bain, 36, a law lecturer, to fight the seat.

Terror attack

Two former BBC journalists are also in the running - David Kerr, 36, is standing for the SNP while Ruth Davidson, 30, is the Tory candidate.

Eileen Baxendale, 64, a councillor and former social worker, is standing for the Liberal Democrats.

Environmental campaigner David Doherty, 24, will fight the seat for the Green Party.

Last month, one of the men who helped foil the Glasgow Airport terror attack, John Smeaton, declared as an independent candidate, backed by the Jury Team.

Kevin McVey, a civil service trade union representative for 20 years, will fight the seat for the Scottish Socialist Party.

Polling day

Left-wing party Solidarity confirmed that its co-convener, Tommy Sheridan, would also be standing in the Glasgow North East seat.

The former MSP is facing perjury charges in relation to a defamation case he brought against the News of the World newspaper.

Mr Sheridan said it was a "privilege and an honour" to have been chosen to fight the seat.

Last month the BNP announced that Charlie Baillie, who has stood in local and European elections for the party, would be its candidate.

At the 2005 General Election Mr Martin won the seat with a 10,134 majority over the SNP.

Neither the Tories nor the Liberal Democrats contested the seat at that election

A 12 November polling day means people in the area will have been without an MP for almost six months.