 | 'Tony Blair lost his second most experienced European lieutenant in less than a month last night when Alan Donnelly stunned his colleagues by unexpectedly resigning as a Euro-MP and as leader of the Labour delegation to the Strasbourg Parliament.' Rory Watson, European Correspondent, in the Herald, 14 th December 1999. |  |
His shock decision - which will mean a by-election in Ayr - comes only seven months after the historic elecÐtions to the new Scottish Parliament.
In a statement on Monday, he cites the pressures of travelling daily to Edinburgh which he claims have proved more `problematic' than he had hoped or expected.
He also expressed the need to "devote more time to my family".
However in a more telling observation, Mr Welsh conÐfirmed: "...I have found it diffiÐcult to adjust to a backbench role at Holyrood." And this week, Labour Party sources confirmed that Mr Welsh - a high-profile Ayrshire politician and former leader of South Ayrshire Council - may have hoped for a more prominent role in the new Parliament.
Mr Welsh was not available for further comment but a party insider maintained: "He may have anticipated a ministerial or deputy Minister's post but it is well known that Ian Welsh is not a party man, not a party animal.
"This would not have advanced his cause at a time when `networking' - attending all the party conferÐences, meetings and the like - is very much in vogue." Meanwhile, South of ScotÐland Tory MSP Phil Gallie, narrowly defeated by Ian Welsh after two recounts in May's Scottish Parliamentary elections, indicated he was keeping his options open with regard to what will be the first by-election of the new Parliament.
Mr Gallie, who was told the news of Mr Welsh's quit decision by the Ayrshire Post, said: "As I see it, I have two options.
"Depending on the approval of my constituency party, I could seek election to the Ayr seat in the Holyrood by-pelection or stay on as a South of Scotland MSP.
"In the event of the latter scenario, a new party candidate may emerge for Holyrood, leaving me free - again, with the constituency party's approval - to fight the Ayr Westminster seat at the next General Election." Of Mr Welsh decision to stand down, Mr Gallie revealed: "I do believe if he had stood against me at the 1992 General Election I would have lost, given Ian's track record and the fact that I was an outsider at the time.
"However, despite Ian Welsh's undoubted capabilities, he has had a very low profile since becoming a member of the Scottish Parliament.
"Perhaps he did feel he had been overlooked but he should have applied himself to the job and had he done so I an sure there would have been a future role for him."
22 nd December 1999
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