8 June 2011 Last updated at 07:37 ET

Inverclyde Westminster by-election date set

The by-election is being held following the death of MP David Cairns

The Inverclyde Westminster by-election will take place on 30 June, with the main parties making jobs and the economy their top priority.

It follows the death last month of sitting Labour MP David Cairns, from pancreatitis, at the age of 44.

Labour has a majority of 14,416 in Inverclyde, but holds the Scottish Parliament seat of Greenock and Inverclyde by 511 votes.

The party moved the writ in the Commons allowing the by-election to take place.

Labour has selected Inverclyde Council leader Iain McKenzie to defend the seat, while former Glasgow MSP Anne McLaughlin will contest it for the SNP.

The moving of the writ came on the day that the Conservatives confirmed their by-election candidate, Inverclyde deputy provost David Wilson.

Mr McKenzie, who pledged to bring new, "high-quality" jobs to Inverclyde, immediately challenged Prime Minister David Cameron and deputy Nick Clegg to visit the area.

Analysis

Brian Taylor Political editor, BBC Scotland

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This is a Westminster by-election - so will the voting pattern reflect 2010 when Labour performed well across Scotland or 2011 when the SNP swept to majority power at Holyrood?

Even in the face of that SNP success, Labour's Duncan McNeil contrived to hold on to the comparable Holyrood seat of Greenock and Inverclyde.

Will that be replicated - or will the special circumstances of a by-election prompt voters to behave in different ways? Will the SNP momentum carry through to victory here as well?

• Royal occasion and a by-election

He said: "The government is threatening the economic recovery, threatening jobs, and hurting families who are working hard.

"So my message to David Cameron and Nick Clegg is simple: come to Inverclyde, look my neighbours in the eye, and tell them why you are cutting faster and deeper than is safe.

"Come and tell people why you think it is ok to close the local Clyde coastguard centre. Tell them why you think it is ok to cut tax credits, child benefits and the winter fuel allowance."

Ms McLaughlin also said her "priority" was to campaign for jobs and investment for Inverclyde.

"The SNP is working to make life better for households in Inverclyde with a council tax freeze, protection for local health services and more police on the beat, she said.

"With a Labour candidate who is in coalition with the Tories it is only by sending an SNP representative to Westminster that Inverclyde can build on the progress of the last four years and win a more powerful voice for people across the constituency."

Inverclyde - 2010 election result

Labour: 20,993

SNP: 6,577

Liberal Democrats: 5,007

Conservatives: 4,502

Majority: 14,416

Turnout: 37,512 (63.4%)

• Result in depth

Mr Wilson, said: "I am delighted and privileged to be selected as the Scottish Conservative candidate for Inverclyde."

"As a councillor for Kilmacolm and Port Glasgow, I have been a strong voice for my constituents, and I will continue to stand up for local people if they give me the honour of representing them at Westminster."

The Liberal Democrats are likely to name their choice next week.

Labour previously said a 30 June date was "unlikely".

The party said last week it was keen to avoid having a by-election during the school holidays and indicated its preference for a "long lead-in time", to set the date back for about two months.