 | 'I have to say that someone in public office ought to know how to conduct himself on all occasions.' Sheriff Kathrine Mackie, 22 nd September 2005. |  |
| 'I have to say that someone in public office ought to know how to conduct himself on all occasions.' Sheriff Kathrine Mackie, 22 nd September 2005. | |
SHAMED peer Mike Watson today awoke to his first full day behind bars in Edinburgh's Saughton Prison.
The former Cathcart MSP who has lost his seat in the Scottish Parliament, his career and his reputation now faces months in jail.
He was jailed for 16 months yesterday for starting a fire and endangering lives at an upmarket hotel, as reported in later editions of last night's Evening Times.
He may remain in Sauton to serve his sentence, which could be as little as eight months with time off for good behaviour, or face being transferred to Glasgow's Barlinnie Prison at a later date, which would seem likely as his home is in Glasgow.
Saughton, situated to the west of the capital on the A71, takes prisoners from courts in Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Borders.
Lord Watson was kicked out of the Labour Party moments after the sentence was handed down at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
The 56-year-old had admitted setting a curtain ablaze after a heavy drinking session at the Scottish Politician of the Year awards ceremony last year.
Passing sentence, Sheriff Kathrine Mackie said jail was the only option because the former Glasgow Cathcart MSP posed a significant risk of re-offending.
She said: "I have to say that someone in public office ought to know how to conduct himself on all occasions."
Branding his behaviour "deliberate and dangerous", she continued: "Fire-raising is a most serious crime.
"The potential for serious injury to guests and staff and for very significant damage to the property was considerable."
Watson's wife Clare, who joined him in court, was in floods of tears as her husband was led away to begin his jail term.
The blaze broke out in the main reception of Edinburgh's Prestonfield House Hotel at around 2.15am on November 12.
Watson had initially denied responsibility for starting the fire, which caused £4500 worth of damage.
But CCTV footage apparently showed him crouching down at the base of a curtain minutes before it was engulfed in flames.
The court heard Watson was under the influence of alcohol that night - a factor the sheriff said "neither excuses nor fully explains" his behaviour.
Voters go to the polls next Thursday in the by-election in Watson's former Scottish Parliament constituency.
Campaigning in the Cathcart by-election today, SNP candidate Maire Whitehead criticised the Labour Party for failing to support Castlemilk youth complex which is under threat because of loss of funding.
Ms Whitehead said the complex, highlighted in the Evening Times earlier this week, was a "magnificent initiative".
She claimed that when it closed for two weeks during the summer police reported that crime had gone up.
Green candidate Chloe Stewart accused Labour's Charlie Gordon and his party's policies of being a "danger to health".
She said: "While much concern is rightly focused on the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow's health is also impaired by polluted air."
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