Ayr by-election 2000

saltire shield'We haven't told the truth, and I'm afraid there will come a time when it will be impossible to disguise the inequality of the health service from the general population.'
The fertility specialist, television presenter and Labour Peer, Lord Winston, 13 th January 2000.		Lion Rampant

James will carry the SSP Colours

From the Ayrshire Post

THE Scottish Socialist Party hit the Ayr Scottish Parliamentary by-election campaign trail at the weekend.
Tommy Sheridan's party were first to select their candidate for the anticipated March poll.
He is local USDAW shop steward James Stewart whose first broadside was aimed at Labour's minimum wage.
Mr Stewart hit out: "One of the causes of poverty and inequality which I will highlight during the by-election campaign is the scandalous level of the minimum wage - and the Government's decision not to increase it for two years.
"MPs on £50 a hour have a cheek to tell us that £3.20 for workers aged 18 to 21 and £3.60 for those over 22 is all we can have." He added: "The Scottish Socialist Party see this as a `national minimum outrage' and we will be demanding not a penny less than the £5 an hour called for by many unions as a step towards the European Decency Threshold level of £7 for all over 16 years of age.
"And by being prepared to remain on a worker's wage as an MSP, I am rejecting the cynical careerism of the do-nothing politicians." Mr Stewart will be formally introduced at a SSP public meeting in Ayr Town Hall today (Thursday).
The Tories meanwhile are expected to announce their candidate later this week.
And party insiders were quick to dismiss the claims of political opponents that the decision of South of Scotland MSP Phil Gallie not to seek the candidacy signalled an admission that they could not win the seat.
Mr Gallie who only failed to win the seat last May by a mere 25 votes, insisted he had been "sorely tempted" but had set his sights on regaining his former Ayr Westminster seat at the next general election.
With the selection process still in progress, party sources were reluctant to `name names' however Ballantrae farmer John Scott who contested the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley seat last May, has been suggested as one of the possible front runners.
Also in the frame is believed to be Glasgow doctor Kate Pickering.
Labour who are defending the most marginal seat in the Parliament are not likely to unveil their candidate until at least next week.
Party sources said that initially there would be a "self-nominating" process from which a shortlist was expected to be drawn up for the constituency party by Labour headquarters.
And despite defending a majority of only 25, Labour remains confident of retaining the seat with "no shortage of interest" being expressed both locally and further afield in the candidacy.
However, party insiders, privately believe that a "local" candidate would be preferable.
If so, one of the front runners, should he throw his hat in the ring, would undoubtedly be South Ayrshire Council leader John Baillie.
This week however he would only confirm that he was giving his position "serious consideration".
The SNP who produced their best ever showing in the constituency last May - polling for than 7,200 votes - are expected to announce their candidate within the next two weeks.
However it is believed that due to "work commitments", Roger Mullin who scored so highly in May has been forced to rule himself out of the running.
Constituency convener Steven Brown was however adamant that a "very strong candidate" would emerge from the current selection process and that the party was confident of, at the very least, improving on the solid platform established by Mr Mullin.
The Liberal Democrats also confirmed this week that the party would be contesting the by-election with their candidate due to be announced by the end of the month.
However it is understood that Elaine Morris who contested the May poll will not be seeking the nomination this time round.

12 th January, 2000

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