Evening News:

FORMER Labour MP John McAllion today threw his hat into the ring to contest the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election as the Scottish Socialist candidate.

Mr McAllion was a Westminster Labour MP from 1987 until 2001, holding key posts in Labour's Scottish Shadow Cabinet, including front-bench spokesman for Constitutional Affairs, Health and Housing.

He said: 'I believe the tradition of challenging inequality, resisting social injustice and standing up for working people is now represented by the SSP.'"