 | 'Caledonia Consulting, which is run by former LibDem councillor Devin Scobie, recruited Watson earlier this year as an "associate director" to bolster its team.' Paul Hutcheon in the Sunday Herald, 5 th August 2007. |  |
| 'Caledonia Consulting, which is run by former LibDem councillor Devin Scobie, recruited Watson earlier this year as an "associate director" to bolster its team.' Paul Hutcheon in the Sunday Herald, 5 th August 2007. | |
A FORMER Labour minister who was jailed for fireraising has returned to public life after accepting a post at an Edinburgh-based lobbying firm.
Lord Watson, who was released from prison last year, is working for a company that charges around £2000 for information about MSPs.
But the disgraced peer has declined to mention his spell behind bars in the biography published by his new employer, Caledonia Consulting.
Watson achieved notoriety in 2005 when he was given a 16 month jail sentence for starting a fire at an Edinburgh hotel the previous year.
A Labour MSP and former minister at the time of the incident, Watson was released last year after serving eight months of his sentence.
He quit the parliament after pleading guilty to the offence, and was also expelled from the Labour party.
He left Scotland after his release and has since been an occasional speaker in the House of Lords, claiming more than £30,000 in expenses following his switch to London.
The controversial peer is now making a comeback in Scotland after accepting the lobbying job.
Caledonia Consulting, which is run by former LibDem councillor Devin Scobie, recruited Watson earlier this year as an "associate director" to bolster its team.
The firm, which describes itself as a "communications consultancy", is said on its website to offer "strategic support and information" on Holyrood and other legislatures.
Watson has joined a team which, according to its blurb, provides "detailed knowledge of the Scottish parliament, elected members and senior officials".
It also promises "sensible all-inclusive fees", such as the near £2000 charge for a "crisp political audit".
Services include arranging client dinners with MSPs and providing intelligence reports on Holyrood.
One of the company's services seems to point in Watson's direction: "Caledonia also offer parliamentary committee training and our expert pool includes a number of former MPs, MSPs and ministers."
Despite Watson's conviction, the firm boasts of pledging to uphold the "highest ethical standards".
The former Labour MSP's own biography, posted on the company's website, mentions his "wide range of experience" as an MP, MSP and peer, as well as his stint as a Labour minister. But the biography does not mention his jail sentence.
Scobie declined to comment on the specific work Watson was doing for his firm, but said: "My recollection is he pled guilty and served the time. He should not be denied a living.
"Mike is a very experienced politician. He has served in three different parliaments and he has a very particular set of skills. This will be one part of his working life."
Watson was not available for comment last night.
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