THE ballot for Labour members to rank their party’s regional list candidates closes today.

Fourteen potential candidates are on the Glasgow region shortlist, including six current MSPs, two former MSPs and one ex MP.

With opinion polls suggesting the SNP will repeat the success of last year’s UK General Election a high ranked place on the party list for the 2nd vote is seen as the best opportunity of winning a seat.

The current regional list vote has been the most keenly contested of all Holyrood elections and party figures have suggested former Scottish deputy leader, Anas Sarwar and former leader Johann Lamont are the frontrunners for the top two places.

Sitting MSPs are included on the list for the first time with three current Glasgow constituency MSPs and one from Rutherglen seeking votes.

Party members have been voting since January 4 and the result is expected to be announced later this week.

Across Scotland in the eight parliamentary regions 108 men and women are looking for a place on the ballot paper.

Only Kezia Dugdale in Lothians and Alex Rowley as leader and deputy are guaranteed top place in their respective lists to give them the best possible change of being re-elected.

On the Glasgow shortlist are current MSPs Patricia Ferguson, James Kelly, Johann Lamont, Hanzala Malik, Paul Martin and Anne McTaggart.

Former MSPs Bill Butler and Pauline McNeill are looking to return along with former deputy leader and ex MP, Anas Sarwar.

The others include councillors James Adams, Marie Garrity and Soryia Siddique and previously unelected Simon MacFarlane and Samantha Ritchie.

The regional list contest has attracted the largest number of prospective Labour candidates since devolution in 1999 including 28 current MSPs.

When the ballot opened Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said it included new faces for the future.

She said: “We want candidates in May who reflect modern Scotland and demonstrate to people that the Scottish Labour Party offers a real alternative to the SNP.

“I’m proud that our candidates are drawn from every walk of life and many professions, charity workers, campaigners, lawyers, business people, office workers, creatives and trade unionists can all be found among our potential candidates.”

The Glasgow regional list vote includes the eight city constituencies and Rutherglen which is in South Lanarkshire.