SNP Westminster Chief Whip Stewart Hosie has this afternoon (Tuesday) moved a motion which would mandate the House of Commons Speaker to set a date for the Glasgow North East by-election.

The motion was objected to by the Labour Chief Whip and will now be subject to a short debate and vote this afternoon after 15h30.

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 Chief Whip Stewart Hosie MP said: "It is now over two months since Michael Martin announced he was standing down and one month since he stepped down yet Labour have refused to move the writ.

"By waiting until after the recess, the earliest possible date on which a by-election could now be held is in November - by which time people in Glasgow will have been without an MP for almost six months.

"There is no rhyme or reason as to why Labour are denying the people of Glasgow their say. The Labour MP for Norwich resigned on 5th June 2009 and the by-election will be held this Thursday - why should people in Glasgow be denied the representation they need and deserve?

"In objecting to the motion to move the writ, the Labour Party are running roughshod over the people of Glasgow North East. This is a spectacular own goal by Labour - denying the people of Glasgow the same democratic opportunity the people of Norwich will have in less than two days."