Glasgow Cathcart by-election 2005

'We are told this is one of the most significant by-elections in the history of the Scottish Parliament. Well, you could have fooled me. And, I fear, the rest of the constituency.' Allan Laing in the Herald, 26 th September 2005.

McConnell warns of the Westminster effect

By Douglas Fraser, Scottish Political Editor, in the Herald 27 th September 2005

JACK McConnell yesterday warned that Labour faced an unprecedented challenge at the next Holyrood election, while targeting the SNP as the main threat.

The first minister told the party conference in Brighton that by 2007, it could suffer the consequences of the Labour administration at Westminster facing mid-term difficulties. There are also concerns about the likely freeze or possible cuts in the level of public spending that will be available for executive spending after the 2007 election Ð although the decision was made by the Scottish cabinet earlier this month to postpone any awkward decisions about that until after the nation votes.

Unlike the Westminster election last May, where Labour wanted to raise voter fears about the return of a Conservative government, Labour is now highlighting the SNP threat. Its thinking is that the Tories will remain becalmed by May 2007, and Labour and Liberal Democrats will be defending two terms in power, leaving the SNP to make the electoral running.

"The 2007 election is going to be much more difficult than 2003 or 1999," said a Labour source. "And there are quite a few seats with majorities of less than 1000."

In his Scottish report to the conference, Mr McConnell asked for Labour backing for Glasgow's bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014. He singled out Fergus Ewing, the SNP MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, who criticised both the London Olympics and the Glasgow Commonwealth bid, saying he was "one of the dourest of the SNP's dour brigade".

Mr McConnell said: "You get the feeling he'd condemn his neighbour for getting a new pair of socks if he didn't get some too."

Looking to Thursday's by-elections, in Glasgow Cathcart and Livingston, Mr McConnell warned the working majority of the coalition would be endangered if Labour loses Cathcart. That would reduce the Labour-LibDem margin to only three votes. However, Labour confidence ahead of the by-elections is rising, with Mr McConnell taunting the SNP for its failure to make progress in exploiting Labour weakness in the wake of Lord Watson's prison sentence for fire-raising.

"In Glasgow Cathcart, where the stakes are high, the opposition should be romping home, but they're not," the first minister said.

Mr McConnell also stressed his administration's approach to public health improvement, and trumpeted the smoking ban in all enclosed spaces.