 | '2.12am Ð Watson, in Highland dress, standing to the left of full-length curtains in a reception room. He appeared to lift something, presumed to be matches, before wielding a table lamp like a torch.' Iain Wilson and Tom Gordon in the Herald, 2 nd September 2005. |  |
THE driveway was lined with flaming torches, an omen of the drama to follow at one of the biggest nights of the year for MSPs and ministers.
They had started arriving at Prestonfield House at 6pm for the Politician of the Year awards, sponsored by The Herald.
They drank champagne before dinner, and many stayed on after the awards to drink at one of the top hotels in the world, as rated by the style-bible Tatler magazine.
Although November, it was a mild night. Highland cattle grazed in 20 acres of parkland, and peacocks strutted across manicured lawns outside the five-star 17th century hotel, near Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh.
The televised, black-tie event was was held in a marquee reached by a covered walkway from the main baronial building, and was attended by 420 people, including Jack McConnell, the first minister.
After dinner, VIP guests returned to the hotel for a 100-strong, invitation-only party at about 11.30pm. By now, it was dark and raining.
At around 2am, Lord Watson, now "well under the influence of alcohol and quite hostile", went to the hotel's Whisky Room, which was being used as a cloakroom. He asked a night porter about his coat but was too drunk to be let in to pick it.
The peer then roamed the hotel, his behaviour deemed strange by the attendant, before "forcefully" asking other staff for more wine. Told the bar was closed, he was offered an open bottle from a table "to calm the situation". His conduct was such that Kerry Bottomley, The Herald's events manager, challenged him.
Then, at 2.16am, a fire broke out, with many guests none the wiser. Guests included host Shereen Nanjiani, the Scottish TV news presenter, and David Hayman, the actor.
Employees of The Herald, including the deputy editor Joan McAlpine and Ms Bottomley, were told hotel staff had looked at CCTV images to find out what happened Ð and identified the figure as the same kilted man who had been behaving oddly before the incident.
After viewing the CCTV footage, Ms McAlpine asked staff to print some stills, which they did. These were published in the newspaper and subsequently given to police.
The grainy pictures revealed a criminal act: fire-raising, which could have endangered lives. Six minutes' footage showed:
2.12am Ð Watson, in Highland dress, standing to the left of full-length curtains in a reception room. He appeared to lift something, presumed to be matches, before wielding a table lamp like a torch.
2.13am Ð Watson moving to the right before crouching down close to the base of the curtains.
2.14am Ð Watson walking away, as a guest entered the reception area heading for his bedroom.
2.16am Ð Watson returning, and looking at the heavy drapes as flames lapped them.
2.18am Ð Flames spreading upwards, reaching the top, and smoke billowing across the ceiling and filling the room.
According to subsequent accounts, the fire was fuelled by a poisonous mix of drink, anger, perhaps jealousy, and upheaval in his public and private life.
Until yesterday, Watson consistently denied being refused drink or being involved in unseemly behaviour towards staff.
But he had seen Labour colleague Margaret Curran become Politician of the Year, ironically in recognition of her success in steering anti-social behaviour legislation through parliament.
They had been friends until 1995, when his Glasgow Central seat disappeared under boundary changes. He then challenged Ms Curran and Mohammed Sarwar to be Labour's candidate in Glasgow Govan.
The selection battle was brutal, from allegations of vote-rigging to a re-run after Watson had won by a single vote. Ms Curran became Mr Sarwar's election agent for the 1997 election, and he won. Mr Watson is said to have never forgiven her.
Fast forward seven years, and Watson had to watch her accept the prestigious award. He was, uncharacteristically, drunk. A colleague recalled: "He never drank a great deal, was always careful. But he could not hold his drink ... he would get drunk quickly."
By the time the fire alarm went off, Watson Ð who had disappeared for several minutes Ð was mingling other guests.
His demeanour had not changed, and soon afterwards he left in a taxi with Martin O'Neill, a Labour MP.
The hotel, owned by flamboyant Edinburgh restaurateur James Thomson, later filed a complaint with police, allegedly after finding evidence of a separate attempt to ignite curtains in a second room, the Yellow Room, where drinks are served in front of a log fire.
It is also where patrons will "probably find a glass of champagne ... irresistible as you perch on the racy black crocodile sofas of our Yellow Room," according to the hotel's brochure.
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