Glasgow Anniesland By-elections 2000

'If the Tory leader is to win the next election he needs to win back seats in Scotland, too. But the present state of disarray of his party north of the Border says that is not going to happen.'
Herald Editorial, 26 th June 2000.

Hague faces up to role of underdog on flying visit to Anniesland seat

By Hugh Dougherty in the Scotsman 16 th November 2000

IT WAS only a whistlestop visit by the Conservative leader but there was enough time for his opponents to make their presence felt.

Donning William Hague masks and waving placards, they crowded around the Tory leader to ridicule his contribution to the campaign for the Anniesland seats at Westminster and Holyrood, which has entered its final week.

Attempting to seize the high ground on law and order he said: "We have a record from Labour of a falling number of police officers and a rise in crime. We would like to see the number of police officers restored to what it was at the last election."

He admitted: "Of course, in elections in safe Labour seats we are the underdog, but this does not mean we do not go out and meet the people and talk about the issues."

Jim Wallace, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, was also campaigning in the Glasgow constituency. He said the executive had presided over a significant increase in the number of officers.

Meanwhile, The SNP highlighted the rebellion by Labour back-benchers over plans to privatise National Air Traffic Services.

Bruce Crawford, the partyÕs MSP shadow transport and environment minister, said a vote for the Nationalists would be a vote against privatisation and added: "The Anniesland constituency lies under the Glasgow Airport flight path."

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