Ayr by-election 2000

'Labour have the gall to claim they are the only party that really cares for the elderly and they demonstrate that by on the one hand giving pensioners an extra 75p and on the other closing their facilities.' SSP candidate James Stewart, 7 th March 2000.

Labour is blasted for budget axe of local services

From the Ayrshire Post

Candidate James Stewart hit out after it emerged that a whole trench of services would have to be axed by South Ayrshire Council in order to meet the local authority's budget shortfall.
The hit list includes the Carrick Street Halls and Content House residential home. All lunch clubs for the elderly are also expected to close. Mr Stewart claimed: "Labour have the gall to claim they are the only party that really cares for the elderly and they demonstrate that by on the one hand giving pensioners an extra 75p and on the other closing their facilities" However he added: "We have been asked for our support from those whose facilities are threatened and we intend to fight this move all the way".
On the question of Content House, Mr Stewart was particuÐlarly angry.
He claimed: "We have been told on very good authority that only 48 hours before this building appeared on the council's hit list, the Labour candidate, Rita Miller - herself a South Ayrshire CounÐcillor - visited the premises and gave assurances that it was not under threat".
The SSP who have now held a series of public meetings throughout the constiÐtuency are more conÐvinced than ever that they will attract "large numbers" of disaffected "old" Labour voters on pollÐing day.

March 8 th 2000