Ayr by-election 2000

'Beattie Media, the company at the centre of the Lobbygate affair, has 20% of public relations contracts from Scottish Executive-financed public bodies, it emerged last night.' Murray Ritchie in the Herald, January 20 th 2000.

'Old' Labour's comeback kid is banking on the Canavan factor

By Alison Hardie in the Scotsman

The 'old' Labour stalwart, whose career in Brussels was effectively terminated at the European elections last year, said senior officials would not allow a repeat of the Dennis Canavan debacle.

However, Mr Smith ruled out repeating Mr Canavan's rebellion of standing independently for the parliament if he failed to become Labour's candidate in the Ayr by-election.

The former South of Scotland MEP said last night 'I think the Dennis Canavan lesson has been completely and comprehensively learned by the Labour leadership in Scotland.

However, this situation is entirely different to the Scottish general election in May and I will stand by the decision of the members of they Ayr Labour Party and certainly not stand as an independent if they pick someone else.'
Mr Canavan was rejected as a Labour candidate for the parliament after Donald Dewar, the First Minister, declared he was 'not good enough'. He went on to stand as an independent in Falkirk West and easily beat the official Labour candidate.

It is understood senior party members will not block Mr Smith's name appearing next week on the shortlist of candidates for the crucial by-election in March.

The contest was triggered when Ian Welsh resigned as the MSP after citing family commitments and the limitations of being a backbencher as his reason to quit.

He won the Ayr seat by just 25 votes from the Conservatives.

John Scott, the Tories' by-election candidate, predicted that voters would punish Labour at the vote in Ayr.

He said 'There's a huge disenchantment in Ayr.

'Labour are on the back foot and we are looking forward to a very good future.'
Labour insiders are reluctant to block Mr Smith, despite predictions that he will be 'unstoppable' if his name goes forward. If Mr Smith's comeback is stopped, Labour also faces a real danger of losing 'old' Labour votes to the Scottish Socialist Party which inflicted considerable damage on its support at the Westminster by-election for Hamilton South.

Mr Smith has repeatedly infuriated the party with his outspoken remarks, particularly about 'new' Labour.

He said last year that the scrapping of Clause Four had been Labour's 'road to ruin'.

Mr Smith has also called Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, 'a megalomaniac with no substance'. Last night he said he stood 'absolutely' by his comments and his views remained trenchantly 'old' Labour.

However, he added: 'I think to be fair the Labour Party in Scotland is different from the UK party. It is broader and more open. It has always been that way and I think you have to separate the two different elements of the party.

'Ever since I sent my CV to the party I have not experienced any hostility and I don't expect any either.'

15 th January 2000