Ayr by-election 2000

'He is leaving the Labour Party with the not inconsiderable embarrassment of facing a by-election in the most marginal of seats, not because of any major crisis but because, he says, it's difficult to adjust to not being a big cheese when the big decisions come along. If I were in charge of the Labour Party's electoral machine in Scotland, I would not have a picture of Mr Welsh on the bedside table right now.'
Ruth Wishart, in the Herald, 30 th December 1999.

The Ayr by-election, Thursday 16 th March 2000

The by-election in Ayr, caused by the resignation of Labour MSP Ian Welsh on 21 st December 1999, was held on Thursday 16 th March 2000. The date was set by the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Lord Steel of Aikwood. The Conservatives won the seat from Labour who slumped to a poor third place in the face of a swell of support for the Scottish National Party.


Ayr Constituency, South of Scotland Region

Phil Gallie MSP (Conservative) MP for Ayr 1992 - 1997 MSP for South of Scotland 1999 -	Ian Welsh, (Labour) MSP for Ayr May - December 1999

Result

BBC Scotland announces the result

The result - Con gain from Lab 17 th March 2000
Tories walking on Ayr 17 th March 2000
Tories romp home as Labour trails behind 17 th March 2000
Tories claim historic win after heavy vote in Ayr 17 th March 2000
Reflective view of the Ayr race 17 th March 2000
Ayr defeat 'just mid-term blues' 17 th March 2000
Labour split widens after Ayr ballot humiliation 18 th March 2000
Scottish Labour now has to show voters where its real loyalty lies 18 th March 2000
Where do we go from Ayr? 19 th March 2000
It's about leadership Donald, but not as we have known it 19 th March 2000
One small step for Tory kind in a hostile land 19 th March 2000
Is time running out for Labour? 19 th March 2000
Timely lessons from Ayr poll 19 th March 2000
Labour's party machine to get an overhaul 19 th March 2000

Assessment

News

Labour facing a battle -Parties braced for first Holyrood by-election after MSP quits seat held by 25 votes 21 st December 1999
Farewell to the backbencher who found transition a little too hard 21 st December 1999
A loss to Holyrood - Resignation may reflect a wider malaise 21 st December 1999
Crucial poll for Labour as MSP quits 21 st December 1999
By-election worry for Labour as MSP quits - Gallie will consider standing down from list to challenge for marginal Ayr seat 21 st December 1999
Ayr by-election set for March 21 st December 1999
Welsh quits after just 7 months in Edinburgh 22 nd December 1999
A challenge to the rules 24 th December 1999
Gallie faces pressure to contest Ayr by-election 26 th December 1999
Welsh: the real reason I quit 26 th December 1999
What really lay behind that painful decision - by Ian Welsh 26 th December 1999
Goodbye never-never land, hello real world 26 th December 1999
Welsh tells how marginal role made him quit 27 th December 1999
Chance was a fine thing 30 th December 1999
Gallie Will Hold Off For Westminster Elections 5 th January 2000
Gallie opts out of by-election 5 th January 2000
Gallie Decides Not To Stand For Ayr- Tories Effectively Conceding Defeat 5 th January 2000
Gallie looks to London for next seat 6 th January 2000
Where every Tory silver lining has a cloud 9 th January 2000
Tories back their women to win race for Ayr seat 9 th January 2000
James will carry the SSP Colours 12 th January 2000
Scottish Tories select local candidate for Ayr by-election 13 th January 2000
Farmer is Tory candidate for Ayr 14 th January 2000
Maverick in line to be Labour's man 14 th January 2000
'Old' Labour's comeback kid is banking on the Canavan factor 15 th January 2000
SNP Advance In Herald/System Three Poll- In Strong Position For Ayr By-Election 16 th January 2000
Ayr Is Winnable For SNP - SNP Gain In Herald / System Three Poll 17 th January 2000
SNP Shortleet For Ayr By-Election - Choice Of Three Excellent Candidates 18 th January 2000
Labour Ayr shortlist drawn up 21 st January 2000
Dewar is sad old man, says ex-MEP 24 th January 2000
Ayr by-election date set 27 th January 2000
SNP Select Jim Mather For Ayr By-Election 27 th January 2000
Thursday as usual for Ayr by-election 28 th January 2000
SNP chooses Ayr candidate 1 st February 2000
Liberal Democrats Select Candidate For Ayr By-Election 3 rd February 2000
By-election call for abolition of Scots Parliament 3 rd February 2000
Labour slump in Ceredigion 4 th February 2000
Plaid Triumph In By-Election - Labour Slump To Fourth 4 th February 2000
Blair and Hague in hot water at Holyrood 4 th February 2000
Hague joins the by-election fray 4 th February 2000
SNP accused of air traffic 'rant' 4 th February 2000
Blair's visit 'blatant electioneering' says SNP 6 th February 2000
SNP Push Vote On Prime Minister's Visit - Blair's Visit Blatant Electioneering 8 th February 2000
Greens Join Ayr Election Battle 8 th February 2000
First ever anti-cloning candidate standing in Ayr 9 th February 2000
Greens Announce Candidate For Ayr 15 th February 2000
Greens Propose New Quality Of Life For Ayr 15 th February 2000
Working class desert New Labour 20 th February 2000
SNP kick-starts Ayr campaign 21 st February 2000
SNP Laugh At Labour Desperation In Ayr 21 st February 2000
Labour loses workers' support 21 st February 2000
Salmond aims for a winner in Ayr race 22 nd February 2000
Blair hopes visit will help Labour keep seat 22 nd February 2000
Lib Dems pledge to deliver 22 nd February 2000
Tories left 'golden legacy' 23 rd February 2000
Tory by-election launch seizes on Section 28 24 th February 2000
Hague slams 'puppet' executive 28 th February 2000
Labour men back socialists 28 th February 2000
Greens launch 'Fresh Ayr' campaign 29 th February 2000
Election fever takes hold in Ayr 3 rd March 2000
SNP rises in poll 6 th March 2000
SNP wins backing in time for Ayr race 6 th March 2000
Concerns for the coalition 6 th March 2000
Tony Blair Not For Ayr - Labour Have Thrown In The Towel 6 th March 2000
Reid seeks to calm Labour waters 7 th March 2000
Reid defends Dewar 7 th March 2000
Air traffic controllers claim U-turn 8 th March 2000
We can't blow it now 8 th March 2000
Labour move Mo into Ayr campaign fight 8 th March 2000
Justice and peace the twin aims of Pro-Life campaigners 8 th March 2000
Independent views . . . 8 th March 2000
Labour duo the target for SNP cash attack 8 th March 2000
We'll clean the streets and beaches say Greens 8 th March 2000
Labour is blasted for budget axe of local services 8 th March 2000
Lib-Dems pledge to overcome transport gridlock 8 th March 2000
Mather attacks paltry pension rise 9 th March 2000
SNP Move Up To Second Place In Ayr And Rising - Labour Slump Into Third Place 9 th March 2000
Ayr campaign heats up 10 th March 2000
Candidate tackled on cuts stance 10 th March 2000
Labour faces third place humiliation in Ayr poll 13 th March 2000
Hague Visit Links Tories To The Past - Reject The Tory Legacy Of Failure 13 th March 2000
Hague's plea to sink Labour 14 th March 2000
SNP Surge In Scotsman Poll - Only SNP Can Now Beat Lacklustre Tories 14 th March 2000
Hague returns to woo grey vote 14 th March 2000
Labour Party standing heads for the gutter on the streets of Ayr 14 th March 2000
Ayr today - poll tomorrow 15 th March 2000
Ayr-time on the internet 15 th March 2000
Tories accused of double standards in campaign 15 th March 2000
Tories win the web war - 21,288 hits so far 15 th March 2000
Tories Win Web War... 'I Don't Think So' - Mather 15 th March 2000
Three Ps' Damaging Tories And Labour - Pensions, Petrol And Privatisation 15 th March 2000
Supermodel Kirsty Hume Hopes For Super Victory 15 th March 2000
SNP Campaign Heads For The Winning Post - Only The SNP Can Stop The Tories 15 th March 2000
Labour admits being lame duck 16 th March 2000
When it all goes wrong on the doorstep 16 th March 2000
Dewar is downbeat on party's poll fate 16 th March 2000
Ayr acid test for Scottish parties 16 th March 2000
Tories set for Ayr victory 16 th March 2000
Tory farmer poised for triumph 16 th March 2000

Parliamentary by-elections since 1997

Hamilton South by-election 1999 (Westminster Parliament)
North East Scotland by-election 1998 (European Parliament)
Paisley South by-election 1997 (Westminster Parliament)

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