Ayr by-election 2000

'Unless the arrangements that are brought about for devolved government in Edinburgh are acceptable within the parliamentary context to people who live in England, they will not work.'
Dominic Grieve MP (Conservative, Beaconsfield) Hansard, 6 th May 1998.

Hague slams 'puppet' executive

From BBC News

Conservative Party leader William Hague has delivered a scathing attack on the Scottish Executive, branding it "a puppet administration".

Mr Hague was speaking while campaigning on behalf of the Tory candidate John Scott for the Ayr by-election on 16 March.

He strongly criticised New Labour and claimed: "Wherever you turn, be it taxes, crime, schools, hospitals, roads and public transport, Labour's programmes are falling to bits.

For 10 months the incompetent Lab/Lib Scottish Executive has been responsible for a catalogue of disasters

"Just as the Labour Government at Westminster has ignored the wishes and concerns of the UK electorate, their puppet administration in the Scottish Parliament has slavishly followed their masters direction.

"For 10 months the incompetent Lab/Lib Scottish Executive has been responsible for a catalogue of disasters.

'Way-out agenda'

"They have abused their control of the Scottish Parliament by putting their own parties interests ahead of the Scottish electorate."

Referring to plans to repeal the law which forbids the promotion of homosexuality in schools, Mr Hague said the executive was "promoting a way-out agenda to introduce children to a whole range of sexual lifestyles with or without the support of their parents".

The priorities being pursued by ministers were "warped", he added.

The Tories lost the Scottish Parliamentary seat by just 25 votes last May and they are confident of regaining the seat.

The party's Scottish leader David McLetchie launched its campaign last week to win the position vacated by Labour's Ian Welsh.

He said the people of Ayr, and the public at large, had been let down by the parliament and blamed the current Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition for a variety of failings.

South of Scotland SNP MSP Mike Russell said: " What's the English Tory leader got to do with a Scottish Parliament by-election?

'London control'

"William Hague has blundered into Ayr to prove who's really in charge of the Tory campaign.

"He seems to have forgotten that in 1997 the Tories lost Ayr and their other Scottish seats because of their London-controlled attitude."

Before Mr Hague's speech, Scottish Secretary Dr John Reid declared: "Hague's visit is a stunt, and nothing to do with the real issues that affect the people of Ayr.

"William Hague opposed the introduction of the national minimum wage which now benefits 159,000 Scots.

"He opposed the New Deal which has given 15,000 young people in Scotland a job, and taken 2,300 long term off the dole queues.

"His party abolished free eye tests for pensioners which Labour has now reinstated."

It is thought the prime minister will visit Ayr before polling day.

28 th February 2000

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