Ayr by-election 2000
 | 'First Minister Donald Dewar and Sir David Steel were involved in a furious behind-the-scenes row amid Opposition accusations that the Prime Minister has announced he would address the Scottish Parliament without first being invited. Angry Nationalist MSPs complained that Mr Blair was treating the Parliament 'like a parish council' by choosing to visit it in the week before the Ayr by-election whenLabour will defend a tiny majority.'
Murray Ritchie and Robbie Dinwoodie in the Herald, 4 th February 2000. |  |
SNP Push Vote On Prime Minister's Visit
Blair's Visit Blatant Electioneering
SNP business Manager Mr Michael Russell MSP has confirmed he moved a vote in the Parliamentary Bureau today (Tuesday) on whether it was appropriate for Tony Blair to address the Scottish Parliament before the Ayr by-election. The motion was defeated in the Bureau by 90 votes to 35. Michael Russell said:
"If Tony Blair addresses the Scottish Parliament in the run up to the Ayr by-election then he will be guilty of blatant electioneering. There is no coincidence that the last Prime Ministerial visit to Scotland was during the Hamilton South by-election campaign.
"The SNP is not opposed to the Prime Minister visiting the Parliament and we would be perfectly relaxed about him speaking in the Chamber after the Ayr by-election. By choosing to visit Scotland a week before polling day, Tony Blair is trying to treat the Parliament as his political plaything.
"Last Tuesday, New Labour spin-doctors insisted there had been unanimity in the bureau for the Prime Minister to address the Parliament on 9 March. Not for the first time Labour spin was based on a fabrication as no such decision was taken by the Bureau last week.
"The Prime Minister should not be allowed to abuse his position in this way. It is inappropriate for Tony Blair to make his inaugural speech to the Scottish Parliament so close to a crucial by-election and the SNP will continue to make that point."
8 th February 2000.
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