Wendy's Spinner Quits After X-Rated Blast At Salmond

Nov 18 2007 By Mark Aitken Political Editor

Labour leader loses another key aide after he swears at the Alex Salmond

A TOP aide of Wendy Alexander resigned yesterday after he swore at Alex Salmond as he picked up an award.

Matthew Marr, the Labour leader's official spokesman, loudly called the First Minister a c*** after he was named Politician of the Year at a ceremony.

Marr, 27, apologised after guests complained but quit yesterday after only two months in the job.

He had taken over after Alexander's previous spokesman quit after just six weeks.

Marr said: "When people make a mistake they should be prepared to take responsibility for it.

"Anyone who knows me will know my behaviour the other night was entirely out of character.

"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."

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

"His behaviour was out of character and he has apologised both to those affected and to me."

Marr's outburst astonished guests at the £100-ahead event at the five-star Prestonfield Hotel in Edinburgh. SNP female MSPs claimed he had also acted in an "obnoxious manner" to them.

Central Scotland list MSP Christina McKelvie said: "This has been another bad week for Wendy Alexander and the Labour Party.

"To lose one spin doctor may be regarded as a misfortune, to lose two is just carelessness."

Scottish Labour was also hit by another high-profile resignation on Friday after general secretary Lesley Quinn announced her intention to leave after working for the party for 27 years.

She had worked with five leaders, two Prime Ministers, three First Ministers and "had stories to tell about them all."

A spokesman for Alex Salmond said: "The First Minister accept Mr Marr's apology and regards the matter as now closed."

Alexander hired Marr, ex-assistant to Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell, as her official spokesman in September.

Her previous spin doctor, former Sunday Mail political editor Brian Lironi, had quit after just six weeks.

The Politician Of The Year awards are no stranger to controversy.

Former Labour MSP Mike Watson was given a 18-month prison sentence for setting fire to curtains at the same hotel in 2004.