Labour split widens after Ayr ballot humiliation 1 Edition

Donald Dewar, the First Minister, expressed disappointment yesterday, but dismissed the defeat as a mid-term protest vote and blamed Keep the Clause campaigners for drowning out Labour's message. John Reid, the Scottish Secretary, pointed the finger at the Scottish parliament when he said that...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inScotsman (Edinburgh, Scotland : Daily)
Main Author DEAN NELSON and ALISON HARDIE
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Edinburgh (UK) Scotsman Publications 18.03.2000
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Summary:Donald Dewar, the First Minister, expressed disappointment yesterday, but dismissed the defeat as a mid-term protest vote and blamed Keep the Clause campaigners for drowning out Labour's message. John Reid, the Scottish Secretary, pointed the finger at the Scottish parliament when he said that voters' unrealistic expectations had caused disappointment. Labour was knocked into third place as the Conservatives won Ayr ahead of the Scottish National Party. William Hague, the Tory leader, said his party's first Scottish by-election win in 33 years had set them on course for victory at the next general election. Labour back-benchers said the "inept" performance of Scottish Labour was to blame. "Anyone in the Labour Party hierarchy who believes that new Labour is popular in Scotland should get out more," Ian Davidson, the Labour MP for Glasgow Pollok, said.
ISSN:0307-5850