Falkirk West By-election 2000

'The SNP almost admits to admiration for Labour's new tactics but warns that videos do not come cheap and could break strict limits on spnding.' Douglas Fraser in the Sunday Herald, 217 thDecember 2000

Nationalists set to challenge Labour

By Murray Richie and Robbie Dinwoodie in the Herald, 21 st December 2000

Labour accused the Nationalists of "sour grapes" after SNP campaigners said they were curious about how much Labour had spent on the last-minute production and distribution of 10,000 video cassettes containing a five-minute commendation of Eric Joyce, the party's candidate.

John Reid, secretary of state for Scotland, said: "The only response we are getting from the SNP is basically sour grapes because they have not managed to inject any urgency or positive notes to their campaigning." He insisted: "We are all constrained by the same legal limits. All will be published and subject to scrutiny."

Labour appeared to take the SNP by surprise with its final flurry of campaign material. Apart from the video there was a 16-page Labour glossy production modelled on Hello magazine, which the SNP estimated must have cost about £6000. Labour followed this yesterday with a Christmas "cracker" urging people to vote for Mr Joyce, and a final leaflet in the form of giveaway Christmas wrapping paper.

After the 16th and final news conference of the SNP campaign a senior party official said it was inevitable Labour's spending would be challenged when returns were submitted within 35 days. He said the SNP' best estimate of the cost of the Labour video alone was between £12,000 and £15,000. The SNP said it had spent to its limit in Falkirk just to match Labour's normal campaign effort and that Labour's video and magazine must have accounted for a further £20,000.

But Dr Reid told The Herald later that the video had been "surprisingly inexpensive" and the SNP's campaign machine was simply behind the times. Labour by contrast had given its campaign a festive feel and injected a sense of urgency.

The campaign closed with the SNP and Labour still swapping insults. David Kerr, SNP candidate, appealed to voters to back him instead of "more New Labour lobby fodder." Mr Joyce responded with promise to be his own man in Westminster, while Dr Reid condemned the SNP campaign as "negative, carping and sneering."

Dr Reid appealed to voters to turn out. "Don't let apathy be the winner in Falkirk. We have learned recently from the United States that people who don't turn out to vote very quickly regret it."

But the two main protagonists were at least agreed that the main issue in Scotland's first Christmas by-election for half a century was health with Labour championing its efforts to improve the NHS while the SNP attacked growing waiting lists and times and the run-down of the local infirmary.

Hugh O'Donnell, Scottish Liberal Democrat, was backed by Elspeth Attwooll, MEP, who said that while the SNP and Tories were intent on reducing Scotland's voice at Westminster, only the Lib Dems could stand out against Labour arrogance.

Craig Stevenson, Tory candidate, ended his campaign with a Save the Pound rally, while Iain Hunter of the Scottish Socialists took to his soapbox in central Falkirk and claimed the SSP was becoming established as Scotland's fourth party.

Voting is 7am to 10pm and a result in the ballot to find a successor at Westminster to Dennis Canavan is expected shortly after midnight.

* Candidates: Eric Joyce (Lab), David Kerr (SNP), Craig Stevenson (C), Hugh O'Donnell (Lib Dem), Iain Hunter (Scottish Socialist Party).

* General Election: Dennis Canavan (Lab) 22,772 (59.35%), David Alexander (SNP) 8989 (23.43%), Carol Buchanan (Cons) 4639 (12.09%), Derek Houston (Lib Dem) 1,970 (5.13%). Turnout 72.60%.

- Dec 21