 | 'At a hustings meeting on Monday night there is surprise when it is announced that Mr Devine's place will be taken by the local MSP, Bristow Muldoon. Labour insists that this was because the event was rescheduled at short notice, but opponents claim the now traditional incumbents' game of "hide the candidate" is in full swing.' Robbn Dinwodie in the Herald 22 nd September 2005. |  |
Nationalist candidates at next week's by-elections were showcased at yesterday's conference.
Knowing that media attention would focus on the sentencing of Lord Watson Ð there was cheering in the auditorium when news of the 16-month jail term came Ð conference managers changed the schedule of major speakers, with Nicola Sturgeon, the deputy leader, due to speak tomorrow.
But it took the opportunity of publicity to highlight local issues the Scottish National party believes will be important in its attempt to overturn Labour majorities in Glasgow Cathcart and Livingston.
Angela Constance, the candidate in West Lothian, spoke of plans to reduce cover at the Craigshill fire station, claiming that cost-cutting by the Scottish Executive was threatening safety in the town.
Maire Whitehead, the Cathcart candidate, raised the waste of police time at the city's district court, when they are only called on 5% of occasions.
According to documents obtained through a freedom of information request, senior police officers have complained that over six months earlier this year, 1375 hours were wasted for only 60 hours spent giving evidence in the court's minor cases.
The SNP wants police to give written evidence for such cases, believing that would be acceptable at least 95% of the time.
Yesterday evening, the main TV channels carried the SNP's election broadcast, featuring Alex Salmond, the party leader, in a deserted Hampden Park, the national stadium that is in the Cathcart constituency.
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