 McElhone was determined to fight her corner, against Bob McTaggart (sitting MP for the old Glasgow Central constituency) and Jimmy Wray who insisted on his right to stand in the selection contest despite Labour Party rules rendering him ineligible.Wray was eventually ruled out, and McTaggart was regarded as the favourite as he benefited from the votes of Wray's supporters.McTaggart won, and McElhone did not stand at the 1983 general election.