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Scottish Labour is considering stripping party members of the ability to choose the party's candidates for the Holyrood election . Party bosses could instead appoint the candidates for the regional lists based on how many voters they had contacted during campaigning . A senior party source hit out at the “power grab” and claimed it could lead to candidates manipulating figures on the number of doors they had knocked. The controversial option will be discussed at a meeting of the party’s Scottish Executive Committee (SEC) tomorrow. Throughout the devolution era, Scottish Labour members have voted to determine the order of candidates on eight regional lists. Nearly all of Labour's candidates for the 73 Holyrood constituencies are in place and the party now has to decide the process for List hopefuls. The Record understands the Scottish Labour hierarchy only wants the regional lists to be open to constituency candidates. One option is basing the list rankings on the number of voter ID contacts made by the candidates already selected for the first-past-the-post contests. Labour has set targets for their existing candidates to engage with voters and it understood the proposal is designed to reward hard work. If pushed through, the plan would see party chiefs elevate some existing MSPs over others. One party insider said the proposal would cause “massive” anger among members and lead to candidates inflating their voter ID returns to party chiefs: “It is a power grab, pure and simple. The leadership would control and appoint the candidates. “But doing it this way is ludicrous. It’s open to manipulation and will advantage candidates with the most resources, with established MSPs having the most to gain. “Members will not stand for being frozen out.” Two other options to be considered by the SEC involve keeping the list rankings process in the hands of party members. One involves a short List campaign and the other would allow an extended campaign period. It comes as Scottish Labour trails the SNP by seventeen points in Holyrood election opinion polls. If Labour performs badly in May, most of the MSPs will be returned on the regional lists. A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “All selections are carried out in line with rules and procedures agreed and overseen by Scottish Labour’s Executive Committee. Across Scotland, we’re campaigning in constituencies and regions with great candidates to deliver the new direction our country needs.” To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here
