 | 'When Sean Connery, the SNP-supporting actor gave a pep talk (written by himself without the aid of spin doctors) o the party during the Scottish elections, he explained his Nationalist credo in uncomplicate terms 'I just want my country to be lik any other country.' This is not the language of narrow seperatism or cultural exclusiveness, but the exact opposite.' Murray Ritchie in Scotland Reclaimed, The Saltire Society, 2000. |  |
Eric Joyce for Labour and David Kerr, the nationalists' candidate, took part in an informal commemorative match, using jackets for goalposts, on the site of the planned new stadium at Brockville.
The back-the-Bairns campaigners were on the verge of fielding their own candidate in the Westminster by-election on December 21, when the council signalled its approval for a community partnership plan for the venue, which will replace the Brockville ground.
Mr Kerr said that this was a giant step forward for campaigners and the club. "Although we have not yet delivered a new stadium for the club we have moved significantly towards attaining that collective goal."
He claimed the SNP had been the first party to proclaim publicly its backing for the campaign.
Eric Joyce said there had been an optimism for the future and for a new home for Falkirk FC at the final game of the last season. That optimism had been renewed.
He added: "It is through the hard work of the campaign, the club, local Labour MPs and the Labour council working together that we have arrived at this position today." Meanwhile John Swinney, the leader of the SNP, has written to the Independent Television Commission to express his concern about ITV's plans to broadcast an hour-long phone-in with the Prime Minister Tony Blair which is scheduled for tomorrow.
Mr Swinney is claiming that it would be "manifestly unfair" to broadcast the programme during the Falkirk by-election campaign.
His letter states: "I am alarmed at the lack of sensitivity concerning the requirements of Scottish democracy. We are approaching a critical stage in the Falkirk West by-election campaign and it would be entirely inappropriate for New Labour to be awarded an unfair amount of broadcasting time."
Mr Swinney said the ITC should intervene and ensure the programme was re-scheduled until after the poll or was not screened in Scotland as had happened with a John Major interview scheduled for Panorama in 1995 just before Scottish council elections.
-Dec 11th
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