Gavin Strang to retire

Andrea Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 03:37:23 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Edinburgh MP Gavin Strang has announced he will stand down at next GE.



Gavin Strang has been MP since 1970 GE representing Edinburgh East (the constituency was Edinburgh East and Musselburgh from 1997 to 2005).

He served as a junior minister under Wilson and Callaghan and then from 1997 to 1998 under Blair.

In 2005 he was re-elected with a 15.6% majority. 2005 GE full result: Lab 40%, LD 24.4%, SNP 17%, Con 10.3%, Others 8,2%.


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Gavin Strang to retire | 9 comments (9 topical)

Re: Gavin Strang to retire (#1)

by repub on Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 09:48:51 PM GMT

A principled man and his departure is a blow to the progressive left...but after 39 years perhaps understandable...




Re: Gavin Strang to retire (#2)

by treborc on Tue Nov 27, 2007 at 08:40:03 AM GMT

But it is another loss of real Labour and a gain to this pseudo Labour we have now


Re: Gavin Strang to retire (#3)

by laurencemarshall on Tue Nov 27, 2007 at 11:00:53 AM GMT

Care to elaborate? Strang was a Minister is Blair's government, he wasn't on the left certainly.


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Re: Gavin Strang to retire (#4)

by repub on Tue Nov 27, 2007 at 11:13:41 AM GMT

I think it depends on what indicators you use. If you just want to list Parliamentary divisions and tick off where you think he was right or wrong, I can see what point you're trying to make. Although he was against the war, Trident replacement, and ID cards.

But also his active championing of party democracy over many years was refreshing for an MP...

And of course he hasn't been a Minister since July 1998. Hardly tarnishes him with the worst crimes of the Blair government that the left would highlight on their checklist...


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Re: Gavin Strang to retire (#5)

by treborc on Tue Nov 27, 2007 at 10:33:40 PM GMT

Well he stood out for me as what I call real labour. And we do not have many left now.


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Re: Gavin Strang to retire (#6)

by laurencemarshall on Wed Nov 28, 2007 at 12:28:35 AM GMT

So what's that then? One line snipes don't really tell me much.


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Re: Gavin Strang to retire (#7)

by jkitleft on Wed Nov 28, 2007 at 02:23:48 PM GMT

just because he was a minister in Blair's government, it doesn't mean he was 'New Labour'


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Re: Gavin Strang to retire (#8)

by laurencemarshall on Wed Nov 28, 2007 at 03:09:30 PM GMT

I never said he was, I just wanted an explanation.


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Re: Gavin Strang to retire (#9)

by Curlew on Thu Nov 29, 2007 at 11:13:23 AM GMT

New Labour will vote with the cabinet without question, Real Labour will remember why we are here, what we stand for, and who we represent.


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Gavin Strang to retire | 9 comments (9 topical)