 | 'Conference notes that scrapping Trident now would release around £1.5 billion annually which could and should be constructively employed in areas of obvious need such as housing education and the health service as well as ensuring the creation of alternative employment and retraining of displaced defence workers.' The Scottish Labour Party Conference delivers a 'slap in the face' to Defence Secretary George Robertson, 6 th March 1998. |  |
The Hamilton South MP took a break from his schedule of Government engagements to attend Hamilton Burns Club's Burns Supper at Hamilton Town Hall .
Mr Robertson proposed the toast "to our guests" at the town's most prestigious event in memory of The Bard.
But he raised eyebrows among some members of the audience at the beginning of his address when he spoke of his delight at having the opportunity to speak at a Burns Supper and added: "Particularly one being held in my own constituency." Tories who were told of the remark and remain bitter about boundary changes made before the last General Election, pointed out that Hamilton Town Hall is in fact no longer situated in Mr Robertson's constituency.
Hamilton's former centre of government is in Hamilton North and Bellshill, the constituency of Mr Robertson's Cabinet colleague John Reid.
One Tory member said: "It is confirmation if it were needed that altering the boundaries, in such a way that Hamilton's MP does not have half of the town in his constituency, was a boob.
"It was an absolute farce the way Hamilton was carved up but I would like to think that George Robertson at least knows the boundary of his constituency." Conservative prospective Scottish Parliamentary candiate for Hamilton South Margaret Mitchell said: "If he visited his constituency more often he would know where the boundaries were. He seems hard pressed to fit in visits between media interviews and rushing off to Westminister." Mr Robertson said: "The Town Hall was in my constituency for 19 years but I did point out later on in my speech that it was now in John Reid's constituency." It was in 1995 that the Boundary Commission put forward proposals to divide Hamilton and place one part of the town into a new constituency including Bothwell, Uddingston and Bellshill.
Hamilton North and Bellshill was also to include the Mausoleum, Council offices, racecourse, Holy Cross High and Hamilton Grammar.
Other parts of the town centre and the remainder of Hamilton then became part of Mr Robertson's Hamilton South constituency.
5 Feb 99
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