Salmond named 'a c**t'

Aventinian · Salmond named 'a c**t'

A slightly less reported angle to the Politician of the Year awards.

From the Scotsman:
Salmond insult costs top Labour adviser his job

TO lose one spin doctor is unfortunate, to lose two is careless. Scottish Labour's media operation was in meltdown last night after the party lost its second top spin doctor in as many months.

Matthew Marr, press adviser to party leader Wendy Alexander, quit his £60,000-a-year post after becoming "tired and emotional" at a glittering awards ceremony and loudly describing Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, as a "c***".

It is understood that at various points in the evening, Marr was discourteous to other senior figures within the SNP and was also rude to cloakroom staff at the Prestonfield Hotel, Edinburgh, venue for the Politician of the Year Awards.

Marr's resignation is an embarrassment for Alexander, who hand-picked him to advise her on getting the best press coverage. In September, Scottish Labour's chief press officer, Brian Lironi, resigned after a month in the post. It was claimed - although Lironi denies this - he had clashed with Alexander over his role.

Marr apparently sealed his own fate on Thursday night when Salmond was called to the stage to receive the Scottish Politician of the Year award.

It is understood that Marr's foul-mouthed outburst was overheard by several guests at his table, including Jennifer Dempsie, a special adviser to Salmond himself. The First Minister was too far away to hear the insult directly.

It is claimed that on the same evening, Marr was rude towards a female Nationalist MSP and a journalist, as well as cloakroom staff. Yesterday morning, he admitted insulting Salmond and apologised "for any offence caused". By mid afternoon, rumours began to circulate that Marr had paid for the offence caused with his job.

In a statement, Marr said: "I believe that when people make a mistake then they should be prepared to take responsibility for it. I would like to offer my sincere apologies to the First Minister for what I said and to anyone else who was offended by my behaviour.

"In all the circumstances I have decided the most appropriate course of action is to resign from my post."

Alexander said: "Matthew Marr has tendered his resignation and I have accepted it."

A source close to the First Minister said: "The First Minister has accepted Mr Marr's apology and considers the matter closed."

But a Labour insider suggested there was more to Marr's departure than a night out gone wrong. "There was more to this than just the other night. It just wasn't working very well. We weren't getting the impact or the coverage we were wanting, and some of us didn't think he was the guy to get it."

The awards dinner where Marr made his outburst has a history of causing embarrassment for Labour. Three years ago, Lord Mike Watson set fire to curtains in the hotel after staff refused to serve him drink. The incident led to him receiving a 16-month jail sentence.

I have to say, I've likely called Salmond worse in my time when I'm equally 'tired and emotional'. I, on the other hand, am not daft enough to do it when I'm being paid £60,000 a year to project a good image of an opposition party. Laughing

Anthropos

Yes he may have called First Minister Salmond a sea you hen tea, and he may have been rude to cloakroom staff and others, but at least he didn't try to set fire to anything. Embarassed

The Lithgae Jambo

azzuri

What a bloody idiot.

It really is Scottish Labour all over though...

sgmillerton

i also think he is a bit of a c**t.

Economist

RadgeJougal

Aventinian

macnumpty

It's a sad reflection on the state of Scottish Labour that these days, they can't even set the curtains alight, never mind the heather. Laughing

kevin04

He looks about 16 and he's Wendy Alexander's head honcho, no wonder they are doing awful in FMQ's with a 16year old foul-mouthed lad preparing the attacks.

Just sums up Nu-Labour

sgmillerton

he is not actually 16 but salmond is a c**t.

Neil

Curtains to his career too.

Aventinian

azzuri

mairead

SG Millerton.
Salmond is no more a C..t than any of those idiots you believe in.

sgmillerton