Fife Labour has descended into civil war as the competition to be elected to Holyrood exposes a series of internal feuds.
The Mid Scotland and Fife regional list selection is one of the most fiercely contested, with Alex Rowley topping it due to his position as deputy leader.
Also in contention are MSPs Claire Baker and Jayne Baxter, as well as ex-MP Thomas Docherty and former party chairman Jamie Glackin.
But in a sensational series of briefings against each other, which can be revealed by The Courier, warring factions have alleged:Mr Rowley tried to undermine his leader Kezia Dugdale with a major policy speech in Dunfermline. A shadow cabinet minister threatened to quit the front bench because his office worker was not initially shortlisted. Manoeuvres are underway to push candidates into contention.With the party likely to struggle in next year’s election, particularly in constituencies, a high place on the list is seen as the best way to get elected.
At an event in Dunfermline last week, Cowdenbeath MSP Mr Rowley outlined his desire to set up partnerships between the Scottish Government and councils to drive a national house building plan.
Sources, including one close to shadow housing minister Ken Macintosh, claimed it was not cleared by the shadow cabinet.
One Holyrood insider: “It was baffling. He and Ken exchanged emails after and had a brief chat but that’s it. If you ask me it’s bang out of order. The whole party is a power play just now.”
Another, from Fife, added: “He hadn’t agreed it with Kez. He just went and did it. This makes the Tony (Blair) and Gordon (Brown) look like the West Wing.”
Mr Rowley insisted the speech was party policy as it focussed on house building, which Mr Macintosh focused on heavily during his conference speech.
He added: “The issues I was raising are very big, important issues.”
Meanwhile, tempers flared when Craig Miller, who works for the retiring Dr Richard Simpson, was not shortlisted for election. Multiple sources say he threatened to walk away from his job as public health spokesman over the issue during a stormy exchange on Tuesday.
Councillor Tom Adams subsequently withdrew from the list yesterday morning, telling The Courier he had taken the decision after speaking to his family and wanted to concentrate on his ward of Leven, Kennoway and Largo. Mr Miller will now take his place.
Neither Dr Simpson nor the Scottish Labour Party replied to requests for comment.