Nats accused of disrespect over ovation snub to departing PM

Published on Thursday 28 June 2007 01:27

THE Scottish National Party was condemned by political opponents last night after some of its MPs refused to join a standing ovation for Tony Blair as he left the House of Commons for the last time.

Mr Blair's departure was greeted by the unprecedented applause, with David Cameron, the Tory leader, waving his MPs to get to their feet to join Labour in saluting Mr Blair as he left the dispatch box.

Even left-wing Labour MPs and the Liberal Democrats joined Ulster Unionists as the whole of the House of Commons appeared to rise in tribute to Mr Blair's ten years as Prime Minister.

However, Labour MPs were angered when some SNP members refused to applaud and were reluctant to get to their feet to join what was seen as a collective tribute by the Commons to Mr Blair.

Mike Weir, Angus MacNeil and Pete Wishart of the SNP remained seated, along with their Plaid Cymru counterparts Hywel Williams and Adam Price.

Jim Devine, the Labour MP for Livingston and a bitter opponent of the Nationalists, last night said he would write to Alex Salmond to complain about his MPs' conduct. He added: "This was appalling behaviour."

Last night, however, the Nationalists defended their actions - which came on the same day Alex Salmond, the First Minister, promised to work with Gordon Brown, the new Prime Minister, in the interests of Scotland.

Mr MacNeil, the MP for the Western Isles and the parliamentarian who first raised the cash-for- honours issue, said:

"The House of Commons lost its collective mind. Don't forget, there are half a million dead in Iraq."

Last night, the contrast in the relationship between the SNP and Mr Blair - who did not phone Mr Salmond to congratulate him on becoming First Minister - and Mr Brown became evident.

Just minutes after Mr Brown formally became Prime Minister, Mr Salmond wrote to congratulate him on his appointment.

Mr Salmond - who had tried to impeach Mr Blair over Iraq - said he wanted a co-operative relationship between Holyrood and Westminster. He said: "I look forward to co-operating with Gordon on matters of the Scottish interest. I'm confident both of us can direct our sights to what we need for Scotland."

Sources close to Mr Brown said he was expected to talk to the leaders of the devolved administration, including Mr Salmond, within the next 24 hours.