Labour MPs have today (Tuesday) voted against setting a date for the Glasgow North East by-election after the SNP attempted to have the writ for the poll moved to allow voters the chance to elect a new MP.

SNP Chief Whip Stewart Hosie MP forced a debate and vote on the issue but the motion - which would have mandated the House of Commons Speaker to set a date for the poll - was overwhelmingly voted against by the Labour benches.

Glasgow North East has been without an MP since former Speaker Michael Martin stood down on 21st June. By convention, the writ would be moved by the Labour party, but the party has made no attempt to set a date despite today being the last business day before recess. In contrast, voters in Norwich go the polls this Thursday to elect a new MP just 48 days after the former Labour MP resigned.

Commenting, SNP Westminster Chief Whip Stewart Hosie MP said: "Labour has had every opportunity to call this by-election but they are clearly running scared of people in Glasgow North East and their campaign is in total chaos.

"The sight of Labour MPs trooping through the lobbies to deny people in Glasgow the chance to vote for a new MP is simply unforgivable. These Labour MPs should be named and shamed for putting their party interests before the people of Glasgow.

"Conventionally, and practically, it is the majority party at Westminster who move the writ for a by-election but, as we reached the end of the Parliamentary term, Labour has refused to do this and so the SNP moved to give people in Glasgow their say.

"Labour were clearly caught on the hop by the move - first objecting to a date being set and then voting against it. Labour's pitiful excuse that constituents did not want a poll over the Glasgow Fair is ridiculous. Even on the shortest possible timetable, a by-election called today would not take place before the 20th of August - by which time the Glasgow Fair will have been over for weeks and schools will already be back.

"The long and short of it is that Labour are putting Gordon Brown's interests before the needs of people in Glasgow and people will see that for what it is."

SNP Glasgow North East candidate David Kerr added: "If voters in Norwich can elect a new MP within weeks of their old representative standing down, then voters in Glasgow deserve nothing less.

"With the threat over Diageo jobs at Port Dundas, not to mention the closure threat over local schools by the Labour local authority now, more than ever, people in Glasgow North East need an MP who will speak up for local interests."