The candidates are pictured above at the famous Falkirk Wheel.

In Grangemouth, sitting Councillor Allyson Black, the Depute Provost, will stand alongside newcomer Joan Paterson.

The town’s other Labour Councillor, Alistair McNeill, is standing down at the elections – as is Councillor Stephen Fry.

Councillor Joe Lemetti was not selected by local party members to re-contest his seat in Falkirk for Labour and will therefore leave the Labour benches this spring.

Margaret Doran, chair of Linlithgow and East Falkirk Constituency Party, said: “Labour councillors in Falkirk have achieved much in the past five years, despite an SNP government who continue to freeze and squeeze local authority budgets whilst centralising more power in Edinburgh. These 16 outstanding candidates are committed to involving local people in making local decision about how to continue to improve council services.”

Martin Murray, chair of Falkirk Constituency Party, said: “ I would hope that the Labour Party will retain control of the Council as a bastion of local democracy, faced with the SNP’s increasing centralisation of power in Edinburgh. In light of the council tax freeze reducing local accountability, and reducing services, while disproportionately benefiting the rich, we need champions who will put the people of Falkirk Council before separatist and centralist dogma. Our candidates give the public that chance.”

The candidates are:

· Ward 1, Bo’ness & Blackness

o David Aitchison, Adrian Mahoney

· Ward 2, Grangemouth

o Allyson Black, Joan Paterson

· Ward 3, Denny & Banknock

o Jim Blackwood, Terrie Hay

· Ward 4, Carse, Kinnaird & Tryst

o Charles MacDonald, Craig Martin

· Ward 5, Bonnybridge & Larbert

o Linda Gow

· Ward 6, Falkirk North

o Craig R. Martin, Pat Reid

· Ward 7, Falkirk South

o Dennis Goldie, Gerry Goldie

· Ward 8, Lower Braes

o Alan Nimmo

· Ward 9, Upper Braes

o Laura Duncan, John McLuckie

Note to Editor: for further information please contact Ian Peattie, tel. 01324 471787 email: ianpeattie@btinternet.com

The new leader – who visited West Lothian just a few weeks ago – said: “Today a new generation has stepped forward to change our party. We are united in our mission to transform Labour so that, once again, we stand up for the hardworking majority who play by the rules and want a less divided and more prosperous Britain. I know we have a lot of work to do. The journey starts today."

• Click here for the full results on the Labour Party website
• Check out the BBC coverage here

A JUBILANT Michael Connarty was today re-elected as the area’s Labour MP – with an increased majority and share of the vote.

Mr Connarty comfortably won the Linlithgow and East Falkirk seat with 25,634 votes – more than 12,500 ahead of his nearest rival Nationalist Tam Smith (who polled 13081). The Lib Dems and Conservatives were placed third and fourth.

The full results are on the BBC website and The Falkirk Herald website.

The announcement came around 2 a.m. at the count at West Lothian College in Livingston. Michael is pictured with supporters and workers from Grangemouth and Bo’ness after the result was announced.

Labour also held onto the neighbouring Falkirk and Livingston seats – both key targets for the SNP.

Visit the BBC website for full results and analysis from around Scotland.

LABOUR supporters are being urged to get out and give their backing to the party in today’s General Election.

Here in Grangemouth Labour’s Michael Connarty is fighting to retain his seat as the area’s MP. If you believe in Labour values, please give him your support today.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. An election result is expected around 4 a.m. tomorrow (Friday, May 7).

Today, in message to party supporters, Gordon Brown said: “During this campaign, you have knocked on millions of doors, delivered tens of millions of leaflets, donated hundreds of thousands of pounds and spread our message far and wide online.

“And now with every poll telling us that there are still more undecided voters than ever before – you can still make a difference, by speaking to these people today. 

• Tell them about our proud record – that we are fighting to protect.
• Tell them about the Tory risk – that we are fighting to prevent.
• And tell them about our plans for the future – that we are fighting to deliver.

“With all my resolve I pledge that I will always fight for the people of this country – I will secure the recovery, never put their livelihood at risk, and always always always fight for their future.”

COMEDIAN Eddie Izzard is fronting Labour’s second film of the 2010 election campaign. It’s a virtuoso stand-up tribute to Britain’s great people, and a heartfelt reminder that while the Conservatives may have changed their suits, they haven’t changed their beliefs or their policies.

Michael Connarty is fighting to retain his seat as Labour MP for this area. Vote Labour on May 6.

SCOTTISH Labour today launched its manifesto for the forthcoming General Election – outlining measures to rebuild the economy, renew society and restore trust in politics.

Labour said it plans to increase the minimum wage in line with earnings, introduce a £40 a week Better Off at Work Payment to people on benefits who find jobs, and introduce a new Toddlers Tax Credit from 2012.

The manifesto also includes Labour campaign pledges in Scotland – policies we will take forward in Scotland from opposition at Holyrood now, and will carry through into the next Scottish Parliament.

Secretary of State for Scotland, Jim Murphy, said: "We all know that Scotland is at a turning point. We can either go backwards with the Scottish Tory Party or Scotland and Labour can continue together to build a fairer and stronger Scotland.

"Our manifesto sets out a clear plan to rebuild our economy – a future industrial policy and strategy.

"Labour’s plans will rebuild Scotland’s economy, renew Scotland’s society and restore trust in politics.

"This election is a choice between Labour or Tory. One of two men will be prime minister – Gordon Brown or David Cameron.

"Labour has a credible plan for Scotland that will support families, grow the economy and change how we do politics in this country."

Labour’s Leader in the Scottish Parliament, Iain Gray MSP, said: “Our manifesto sets out our vision for a fair and prosperous Scotland and firmly places Labour as the party of ideas. We will seek to deliver for the people of Scotland in every place and at every stage.

"The fact we are in opposition in the Scottish Parliament will not deter us from voting our values into laws. So even now, we will bring forward the changes we need in Scotland to reform our public services and improve the lives of Scots.

"It is not fair that children leave school unable to read or write properly, or that knife criminals can carry a blade knowing they will get away with it. Labour has set out a future that is fair and a plan for recovery that is sensible. 

“The Tories would drive a wedge between people in Scotland at a time when we need to come together to get the Scottish economy back on track."

(Click on the Manifesto document to download the PDF).

LABOUR has unveiled its Party Election Broadcast for the poll on May 6. It stars actor Sean Pertwee and features a voice-over by former Doctor Who David Tennant.

Campaign co-ordinator Douglas Alexander said: “During this election people are asking themselves the big questions – who can I trust to do the right thing for my family and how are we going to keep the economy recovering.

“Throughout the tough times, Labour have been clear – support the economy during the downturn, securing the recovery and start the work of creating the future jobs and industries that Britain needs in years to come.

“Watch our Party Election Broadcast and share it with your friends.

“At this election, our country is at a crossroads. We can stay on the path we’ve set, securing the recovery and embracing the new opportunities open to Britain, or we can throw it all away by setting off down the Conservatives’ dangerous, untried road that risks a double-dip recession.

”During tough times, the British people have shown real resolve – taking the tough decisions and doing what needs to be done.
We’re getting through. Now is not the time for Britain to turn off the road to recovery.”

Give your support to Labour by voting for our candidate, Michael Connarty, on May 6.

MICHAEL Connarty today (Sunday) launched his campaign to be re-elected as the MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Bo’ness, he told party workers about the threat to Britain if the Conservatives win the forthcoming general election.

“The phoney war is over and the real battle to re-elect the Labour Government, for a historic fourth term has begun,” he said.

Mr Connarty is defending a Parliamentary majority of more than 11,000.

“We go into this campaign with a quiet confidence, but we cannot and must not take things for granted,” he said.

Keep up-to-date with the campaign by visiting this website.

* Michael is pictured with his wife Margaret, Grangemouth Councillor Alistair McNeill and supporters at the campaign launch.

He said: “Today I visited Her Majesty the Queen to ask for a dissolution of Parliament and a General Election on May 6th.

“From now until polling day I will travel the length and breadth of Britain with a simple message – Britain is on the way to economic recovery and now is not the time to put it at risk. But this is going to be a different kind of election – one where we the politicians throw open the doors to grassroots activists and the wider public.

“Britain’s future success will be shaped in the next few months.
It is a time of big challenges and tough decisions.

”From the big calls on the economy – securing the recovery and creating future jobs – to tackling climate change, succeeding in Afghanistan, restoring faith in democracy and the other issues that face our country, only Labour has the credible answers.
And we’re going to prove it.”

See BBC coverage at www.bbc.co.uk/election2010