The successor to late Labour MP David Cairns will be elected on June 30.

Labour moved the procedural writ in the House of Commons today to start the Inverclyde by-election. It was formally moved by the party's chief whip, Rosie Winterton.

Mr Cairns, who died from pancreatitis last month aged 44, held Inverclyde for Labour in last year's general election with a majority of 14,416. In the nearest equivalent Holyrood constituency, Greenock and Inverclyde, Labour's Duncan McNeil secured a majority of just 511 in last month's Scottish Parliament election.

Inverclyde Council leader Iain McKenzie has been selected to defend Mr Cairns' former Westminster seat. Mr McKenzie said: "I am proud of Inverclyde and am the only one of the main candidates so far that actually lives here. This election is about our future. Our area is on the up but there is much more to do.

"I have been out knocking on doors, speaking to people here, and it is clear that the biggest issue is jobs. I will be banging heads together to bring new employers and high-quality jobs to Inverclyde.

"But I am taking nothing for granted, so will be working hard, day in, day out, to earn the trust of people here. I think we also need a credible, local voice to stand up against the unfair Tory cuts that are hurting so many people and risking the economy.

"If elected on June 30, I promise to always do what's right for Inverclyde, not what's right for Westminster."

SNP

Former Glasgow MSP Anne McLaughlin will contest the seat for the SNP. She said: "My priority is 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.

"As Inverclyde's MP, I will work hard for local communities on the issues that matter, like soaring fuel and energy bills and the threat to the local coastguard service. And I will work with Alex Salmond and the SNP Government to protect and create jobs and deliver new opportunities for Inverclyde.

"In the last week I've been out on the doorsteps, speaking to voters and setting out the SNP's ambitions for a more successful Inverclyde."

Kilmacolm and Port Glasgow councillor David Wilson is the Scottish Conservatives' candidate for the seat. He will be formally adopted at a meeting of local members on Thursday.

Mr Wilson said he was "delighted and privileged" to stand, adding: "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." Party leader Annabel Goldie said Mr Wilson was "a tireless and effective worker".

Ukip

Businessman Mitch Sorbie has been announced as Ukip's candidate for Inverclyde. In 2010, Mr Sorbie stood in West Dunbartonshire, doubling the Ukip vote. Standing on a ticket which advocates withdrawing from the EU and investing any money saved in areas like Inverclyde, Mr Sorbie said he is also keen to tackle rising unemployment in the area.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: "Mitch is a first-rate candidate. We hope to build on our recent by-election success in Barnsley which saw Ukip beat the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

"A vote for Ukip is a vote for the only real eurosceptic party. All of the others, including the SNP, put Europe first, not Scotland."

Christopher Monckton, leader of Ukip Scotland, said: "Scots are fed up of seeing services being cut in places like Inverclyde whilst vast sums of cash are sent to bail out EU countries or to other nations in foreign aid. Mitch is key to Ukip's operations in Scotland and will be supported all the way by our activists from across the land."

Nominations for candidates have not yet closed. At the moment, the Liberal Democrats have not selected a candidate.

IN DETAIL

• Inverclyde by-election: The candidates