Glasgow Cathcart by-election 2005

'We don't deserve this. We're a genuinely happy community.' Invergowrie Cllr, Peter Mulheron, 25 th May 2006

Villagers 'stuck with peer title'

From BBC Scotland News 25 th May 2006

The Perthshire village which features in fire-raising peer Mike Watson's title has been warned it may have to live with the association.

Some residents in Invergowrie feel his 16-month jail sentence brought unwelcome attention to the area.

But expert Charles Mosley, editor-in-chief of society publication Debrett's, said villagers had little hope of having the title dropped.

Residents' concerns have been backed by local councillor Peter Mulheron.

He said: "When the title was bestowed upon Mr Watson, we were quite amazed.

"But, regretfully, the person who got it has not lived up to what the people expected."

Mr Mulheron added: "We don't deserve this. We're a genuinely happy community."

'On the map'

Lord Watson of Invergowrie, a former Labour MSP, was freed from prison after serving eight months for starting a fire at an Edinburgh hotel.

Watson, 57, who admitted setting a curtain alight following a heavy drinking session at an awards ceremony, left Saughton Prison on Tuesday.

Mr Mosley said there was not much that disgruntled Invergowrie residents could do, apart from petitioning the Queen to deprive him of his title.

But he added: "I think she's got more on her plate than that.

"Lord Watson has put Invergowrie on the map, however unfortunately, and none of the people of Invergowrie want to take it off the map again.

"Only very naive people will assume that because a person called Lord Watson of Invergowrie has gone in for some fire-raising that the good people in Invergowrie are prone to arson themselves."