 | 'Douglas Alexander seems to be saying that, although Labour sleaze exists, nobody should talk about it in this by-election. It is precisely because Labour have failed to talk about it and deal with it over the years that it has developed into the present crisis.' SNP candidate Ian Blackford, 30 th October 1997. |  |
With Labour still unable to dislodge Councillor Harry Revie from his Renfrewshire Council convenership, Mr Alexander instead laid the blame on other parties for raising the subject of sleaze.
Given that his party is making great claims for "zero tolerance of sleaze and corruption", and the candidate's mentor, Chancellor Gordon Brown, is arriving to support him today, opponents seized on what they saw as the first major gaffe of the by-election campaign.
Mr Alexander was flanked by Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar and four senior figures from the local business community who were prepared to endorse Labour's welfare-to-work programme while, Mr Dewar stressed, not actually supporting the candidate himself.
The four - Paisley Chamber of Commerce chief executive Elizabeth Cameron, Glasgow Airport managing director Paul Barlow, J&B whisky director Andrew Kirkby, and Phoenix Honda dealership group corporate manager Jim Parker - were then asked by The Herald whether they shared the fear that Labour sleaze damaged the reputation of the area and harmed prospects for inward investment.
Mr Alexander intervened, saying: "You have a responsibility in a political campaign such as a by-election to make sure that the nature of your allegations do not damage the local community, the employment opportunities, and the opportunities for inward investment.
"I think those parties that are making such suggestions should look long and hard at the records of their own individual members and councillors and what damage they are doing by seeking to continually characterise this community as being one which would perhaps not be friendly to inward investment or these new opportunities.
"We all have a responsibility in this by-election to fight a positive campaign, and speaking for the Labour Party I am delighted to push a very positive message in terms of new opportunities being brought here into Paisley South.
"That perhaps says more about the desperation of the other parties' campaigns in the face of such clear endorsement for the Labour Government's programme than it does about any reality."
Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate Eileen McCartin said the truth was that Labour sleaze had damaged Paisley and put businesses off, and Mr Alexander was silly and immature to pass off the blame on to other parties.
"When will someone from Labour actually just say sorry - sorry for the complete shambles they have created in Renfrewshire, sorry for failing to take tough action much sooner, and sorry for repeatedly letting down the people of Paisley South?"
The Tories accused Labour of hypocrisy and arrogance. "The sleaze they have inflicted on Paisley is all of Labour's making and, disgracefully, they are still determinedly refusing to come clean on the full facts behind it, or to clear the air for the people of this town," said candidate Sheila Laidlaw.
"They continue to preach zero tolerance on corruption while practising zero action, and business and investment continue to be inhibited as a result."
SNP candidate Ian Blackford called it a ridiculous argument to blame the detractors. "Douglas Alexander seems to be saying that, although Labour sleaze exists, nobody should talk about it in this by-election." he said.
"It is precisely because Labour have failed to talk about it and deal with it over the years that it has developed into the present crisis." - Oct 31
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