Anas Sarwar, at the age of 24, has already emerged as the clear front runner to take over the Glasgow Central seat at Westminster from his father, Mohammad - so long as Labour can retain it at the next election.

Mr Sarwar said yesterday he is yet to decide whether to stand, and will discuss his plans with party members in the next few days.

But others have little doubt that he will try to become Labour's candidate at the next Westminster election, and will have the backing of his father.

Sarwar supporters are thought to dominate the local party membership, and moved this week to oust a left-winger from the constituency secretary post. He cannot count on all the affiliated trade unions, however, where a challenger to the younger Sarwar is being sought.

Anas Sarwar, who works as a dentist in Paisley, topped Labour's list in Glasgow for the Scottish Parliament. But the family has a cloud hanging over it, as his older brother, Athif, next week faces sentencing for a large-scale fraud through the family firm set up by the MP.

Ten years after becoming the first Muslim elected to the House of Commons, Mohammad Sarwar announced on Thursday that he will not stand at the next election.

It was reported that this was because he has received death threats from gangs connected to the three Pakistani-Scots he arranged to bring back from Pakistan to face justice in Scotland, who were then found guilty of the murder of white teenager Kriss Donald.

Yesterday, he clarified that he has received death threats from various groups since becoming an MP and, while it has been a difficult time for him and his family since bringing the youths to justice, that was not the main reason for standing down.

He said this is to spend more time with his family and on charitable work, and denied his announcement was linked to his son's conviction.