 | 'Glasgow MSP Lord Watson of Invergowrie is alleged to have been involved in an incident at the hotel during which curtains were set on fire.' Steve Bargeton and Alan Wilson in the Courier, 13 th November 2004. |  |
| 'Glasgow MSP Lord Watson of Invergowrie is alleged to have been involved in an incident at the hotel during which curtains were set on fire.' Steve Bargeton and Alan Wilson in the Courier, 13 th November 2004. | |
THE POLITICAL future of a prominent Labour politician hung in the balance last night after an alleged incident at a star-studded awards ceremony.
Glasgow MSP Lord Watson of Invergowrie is alleged to have been involved in an incident at the hotel during which curtains were set on fire.
Former minister Mike Watson was one of hundreds of politicians, celebrities and business people attending the Scottish Politician of the Year awards at the Prestonfield House Hotel in Edinburgh on Thursday night.
It is understood that CCTV footage shows a man apparently setting fire to curtains in two public rooms of the hotel.
Lothian and Borders police confirmed that they were called to the hotel at 11.05 pm on Thursday. 'There is an inquiry under way,' a spokesman said.
A spokesman for the Scottish Parliament said that no complaint had been received regarding the behaviour of an MSP at the awards ceremony.
Drinks company Diageo, which sponsored the event, said last night that the company was aware there had been an incident at the hotel in the early hours of the morning, after the close of the ceremony.
A spokesman said, 'We would obviously regard any such incident as regrettable.'
It is understood that the event finished at 11 pm and Diageo closed its bar at 12.30 am.
Mike WatsonŐs political career began in earnest in 1989 when he was elected MP for Glasgow Central.
After being re-elected in 1992, boundary changes saw his constituency vanish by 1997.
He then became embroiled in a bitter selection battle with Mohammed Sarwar for the candidacy in Glasgow Govan when he won the first vote but, after a challenge to the result, lost out on the re-run.
He became Lord Watson of Invergowrie the same year after being awarded a peerage in Tony BlairŐs honours list, but two years later he returned to elected politics as MSP for Glasgow Cathcart.
As an MSP, he has been in the public eye through his Bill to ban fox hunting with dogs.
He has held the positions of finance convener, tourism, culture and sports minister and is at present deputy convener for enterprise and culture.
While sports minister, he presided over ScotlandŐs failed bid to play host to the Euro 2008 football championships, and was criticised for calling for men-only golf clubs to lose the right to be host to the Open, a move which would have seen clubs such as Muirfield, St Andrews and Royal Troon being removed from the championship circuit.
Although born in Cambuslang, he was brought up in Invergowrie and attended the local primary before going to Dundee High School.
He graduated in economics from Heriot-Watt University, then worked as an adult education lecturer and was an official of the white-collar union ASTMS.
A Dundee United fan, he produced a history of the club, Rags To Riches, and Tannadice Encyclopaedia.
Return to home page