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'Dump' town MSP under more fire MSP sorry for 'dump' town comment
(about 1 hour later)
A Nationalist MSP who branded a south west Scottish town a "dump" has been criticised by a party colleague. A Nationalist MSP who branded a south west Scottish town a "dump" has apologised for his comments.
Environment Minister Mike Russell said Christopher Harvie's comments about Lockerbie were "over the top". Christopher Harvie made the comments about Lockerbie, the scene of the UK's worst terrorist atrocity.
Critics of Mr Harvie, who also said Carlisle's main street was a "booze canyon", have demanded an apology. Mr Harvie, a Mid Scotland and Fife MSP, also described the main street in the city of Carlisle as a "booze canyon".
But Mr Russell, a South of Scotland MSP, said Mr Harvie was a "colourful figure" and the apology calls were a knee-jerk reaction. Environment Minister Mike Russell said Mr Harvie's comments were "over the top" but calls for an apology were a knee-jerk reaction.
Mr Harvie made his comments at a meeting of the Scottish Parliament's economy committee, which is carrying out an inquiry into boosting tourism.Mr Harvie made his comments at a meeting of the Scottish Parliament's economy committee, which is carrying out an inquiry into boosting tourism.
That is not fair to the people of Lockerbie Mike RussellSNP MSPThat is not fair to the people of Lockerbie Mike RussellSNP MSP
The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP described a recent trip through Lockerbie, in Dumfries and Galloway, which was devastated by a plane crash terror attack in which 270 people died in 1988. But he told BBC Scotland: "I do apologise for certain comments. I certainly was wrong, I think, to use Lockerbie as an example."
"On getting to Lockerbie, I discovered that the place is a dump - it was Tescotown," he told MSPs. The MSP had described a recent trip through the Dumfries and Galloway town, which was devastated by a plane crash terror attack in which 270 people died in 1988.
"On getting to Lockerbie, I discovered that the place is a dump - it was Tescotown," he told MSPs at the committee.
"It should really have a certain attraction, of a rather sombre kind, as a place where something terrible happened."It should really have a certain attraction, of a rather sombre kind, as a place where something terrible happened.
"There are, after all, places on the Western Front and that sort of thing that have such an attraction for families who have lost people there.""There are, after all, places on the Western Front and that sort of thing that have such an attraction for families who have lost people there."
Referring to the dress-sense of young Scots, Mr Harvie also suggested Sports Division founder, turned philanthropist, Sir Tom Hunter, made his fortune from selling "what must be the ugliest clothes worn by anyone on the entire continent".Referring to the dress-sense of young Scots, Mr Harvie also suggested Sports Division founder, turned philanthropist, Sir Tom Hunter, made his fortune from selling "what must be the ugliest clothes worn by anyone on the entire continent".
Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale Tory MSP David Mundell demanded an apology from Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond for the comments. Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale Tory MSP David Mundell had demanded an apology from Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond for the comments.
'Colourful character''Colourful character'
He said: "I think Mr Harvie's remarks demonstrate a remarkable ignorance of the situation of the events of 1988 - particularly his comparison of the situation in Lockerbie to WWI battlefields."He said: "I think Mr Harvie's remarks demonstrate a remarkable ignorance of the situation of the events of 1988 - particularly his comparison of the situation in Lockerbie to WWI battlefields."
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said: "These other comments by Chris Harvie take the breath away. They are positively barmy.Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said: "These other comments by Chris Harvie take the breath away. They are positively barmy.
"He represents a supposedly pro-European party but displays the worst kind of euro-phobia.""He represents a supposedly pro-European party but displays the worst kind of euro-phobia."
Defending the comments, Mr Russell said: "Chris is a colourful figure and we live in a society where freedom of speech is paramount.Defending the comments, Mr Russell said: "Chris is a colourful figure and we live in a society where freedom of speech is paramount.
"Demanding 'apologies', as some over-sensitive MSPs have done, is a knee jerk reaction.""Demanding 'apologies', as some over-sensitive MSPs have done, is a knee jerk reaction."
But the minister added: "It is unfortunate that, in the case of Lockerbie, the language used was a bit over the top. But the environment minister added: "It is unfortunate that, in the case of Lockerbie, the language used was a bit over the top.
"That is not fair to the people of Lockerbie. As I know from personal experience, they have a lot to be proud of - and I will continue to champion the town's virtues.""That is not fair to the people of Lockerbie. As I know from personal experience, they have a lot to be proud of - and I will continue to champion the town's virtues."