LATEST NEWS
Most updated bit of the site here, as events unfold they will appear here
NEWS from the Daily Record and The Scotsman now on this site
and NEWS SEARCH from the PA.
08/01/00
Phil Galie has stated that he will not stand as a candidate and instead will seek the Westminster seat instead - see comment page.
10/01/00
Pro-Life Alliance announce they are to field a candidate. The party is linked to the contraversial 'Presious Life' group. This is due to Phil Gallie (who opposed abortion) pulling out. The intend to mount a serious campaign - much to the dislike of a local newspap
12/01/00
FIRST CANDIDATE. The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) have named their candidate, it is James Stewart. In his first statement he has denounced the Labour Government's mimiumum wage level. see party page for more updat
13/01/00
"Looks like the Ayr by-election has stared early" - Donald Dewer comments in the Scottish Parliament. During FMQ's Phil Gallie rose to defend his decision to stand at Westminster after jibes from Labour Backbenchers. For Transcrips see Resources
The Conservatives have named John Scott, a local farmer to be the candidate. He stood in Carrick Cumnock and Doon Vally in May 1999. More about him so
14/01/00
Rumours for Labour are that John Smith has nominated himself for the caniditure. Smith was a previous MEP for South of Scotland but is now at odds with the party leadership - he called Blair a megalomaniac. He has said that if he is not allowed to stand then support for the SSP will rise [NB: He seams to be unaware of the notable right or center support in the town]. Others rummoured are the leader of the council and singer Donnie Munro. See Party Page for current situati
17/01/00
Local Paper reports that John Smith is by far the most likely to become the nominated candidate for Labour. See Opinion Pols for thi
19/01/00
Local Paper reports that John Smith is by far the most likely to become the nominated candidate for Labour. See Media Page for thi
21/01/00
The Labour executive committee in Glasgow have announced a short-list of three candidates. They are John Ballie (Leader of South Ayrshire Council), Claudia Beamish (a supply teacher) and Rita Miller (a local counciler in Prestwick and a leading light of Labour in Ayrshire). Members in Ayr (who have a 'real choice') will vote at a meeting on Monday evening. This excludes left-winger Alex Smith (former MEP) from being the candidate, he has issued warnings about this and the press are focusing in again on the 'domination' of the executive to wead out left-wing candidates. See Opinion for comment, parties for candidate detai
24/01/00
Alex Smith has resigned as a Labour Member. He is a present in talks with the SSP about supporting their campaign. In political terms this is a big u-turn, especially as onl;y a few days ago he wanted this party he turned his back on to support him as the candidate. See Opinion.
24/01/00
Labour party members in Ayr have selected Rita Miller as their candidate.(a blow to John Ballie, but as mentioned here earlier, she is a rising star in the local party).
27/01/00
THE DATE OF THE BY-ELECTION HAS BEEN ANNONCED - IT WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY 16TH MARCH, 2000. Sir David Steel who set the date has said he would have prefered to choose a Satuarday (which would be the first ever in the UK), but is not allowed to at present, however this may be the last by-election on a Thursday in the Scottish Parliament, as Sir David wants to change the law.
27/01/00
The SNP have choosen their candidate, it is Jim Mather a 52 year old charted accountent from the south side of Glasgow. The party claim they only need a 9% swing to win it. See Parties Page
02/02/00
Two more candidates have been anounced, they are Alistair McConnachie for the UK Independacne party and Kevin Dillan as an independent against Human Cloaning. See Parties Page
03/02/00
Labour in Wales are suffereing, in the by-election in Ceredigion, they came 4th (they were 2nd) and the leader in the Welsh Assembly is facing a vote of no confidence. Parties here say it shows how Labour are slipping. BBC WALES See Additional Resources
04/02/00
The PM, Tony Blair has been accused of blatet electioneering in the run-up to the Ayr poll be seeking to speek in the Scottish Parliament days before voters go to the polls, opposition parties are objection to the move
04/02/00
William Hague has said he will be joining the campaign in Ayr and has hinted that the controversy around Section 28 will playan important role in the Campaign. See additional Resouces
05/02/00
Scottsih Secretary John Reid has accused the Tories of being 'out of touch' (and reffered to Section 28, although public opinion is partly with the Tories) and accused the SNP of "politics of identity" in a speech to the TUC. SNP claim that Labour are running scared in the Ayr By-election. BBC
05/02/00
Party activity starts in the High Street with the SSP and a large pressence from the SNP as well as the first leaflet drop to houses. See Campaign Page
08/02/00
The Liberal Democrats have anonced Stuart Ritchie as the candidate for thier party, he is a student at Paisley University: See Parties Page.
15/02/00
The Green Party have also announced their candidate - unfortuently I heard this on the radio this morning and I was still half alseap and didn't catch his name...
They were 'Everything you need from a store and a little bit more", well now Safeway may well be. Councilers are to decide today if they should use Safeway in Ayr as a polling station rather that Holmston Primary School as would normally be the case. The station would be set up in the Resturant (handy for the long hours of the polling clerks!) of the store, with the area surrounding being cordend off. If such an event was to happen then it would be the first ever in the UK. The idea is to encourage more, especially the young, to vote.
Holmston PS is located near the center of the town, just a few hundred yards from Safeway. Built as Smith's Institution in 1883, it has recently had a major facelift and improved facilities including disabled acces. Safeway was built in 1994 and is only 1 minuits walk from Burns Statue Square, the heart of the Town Center. The Store is not the largest in town, but because of it''s locallity to near-by houses gains a lot of custom from the local community in Forehill.
Also today, we hear of the governments plans to secure 500 jobs in the constituency by building a new Air Traffic Control center at Prestwick, also meaning jobs for 700 construction workers. This debate has being going since 1996, so it is rather convienent timming that thje announcement has been made now.
Today has been a busy one. Hauge has announced his Keep the Pound campaign. It involves him driving around in a van (they call it a truck) across the country telling people why they should stop the Euro and why they are the ones to do it. One port of call is to be Ayr (early March, I've asked them for the date), where the locals gain get free t-shirts, mats, badges and the ilk. A serious issue, pehaps a cartoonists dream. More details see the Express
18/02/00
The move to allow voting at Sfeway has not gone ahead. It was felt that it would confuse voters. However the possibility of such moves in the future are still possible
The Conservatves have started campaigning, a leaflet frop to 'supporters' has just finished. It is to explian the canidate and tells us that he is going to be the party's first const. MSP - though not his policies.
Labour are not doing too well in devolution. The maveric Rodri Morgan AM has just been apointed 1st Sec in Wales and the vote for London Mayor is anounced on Monday
19-25/02/00
Labour, Conservativs, SNP and Liberal Democrats all had high profile campaign launches this week. Details of these are on the parties page
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