TWO Labour MSPs announced their candidacy for the Scottish Labour party’s deputy-leader role yesterday, less than a day after their bid to share the job was blocked. 

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) and Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) had originally hoped to make a joint bid for the post, but this was ruled out by party chiefs.

The party said procedures meant that “individual Scottish Labour councillors, MSPs and MPs will each be able to nominate themselves or one Scottish Labour councillor, MSP or MP for the position of deputy leader.”