The Herald

Dewar Wanted to Quit Politics On the Eve of Holyrood Poll Book Reveals Self-Doubt and Depression

DONALD Dewar was so depressed and exhausted in the run-up to the first Holyrood elections that he considered walking away from politics, according to a new book about the late first minister. The revelation that the man often called "The Father of the Nation" almost never led postdevolution Scotland comes from Fiona Ross, one of Mr Dewar's closest friends for 25 years.

Four Men Die in the Heat of Great North Run

FOUR men died yesterday while taking part in the 25th Great North Run. They were among around 50,000 people running the 13mile course from Newcastle, across the Tyne bridge to Gateshead and on to South Shields to raise around GBP10m for good causes.

Libdem Image Change

CHARLES Kennedy last night said he would end the Liberal Democrats' "tax-and-spend" image. Speaking at the start of the party's conference in Blackpool, MrKennedy admitted the LibDems had failed to convey its tax proposals properly during the general election.

Censure for Private Prison Company

G8 Policing Attacked

Tagging Company 'Failed in Its Duties' Serco Favourite for Contract

THE private security firm set to take over the electronic tagging of prisoners in Scotland has been censured for its failings in monitoring a teenager convicted of the murder of a jeweller while under its supervision. Serco, which runs Scotland's only private prison, has been awarded preferred-bidder status for the tender to operate electronic tagging on teenage and adult offenders north of the border for five years from April.

Arriving in Style

Vote for the Best Lottery-Funded Project in Scotland

READERS of The Herald are invited this week to vote on who should win the first National Lottery Scottish Project of the Year award. Since the lottery began in 1994, more than GBP1.6bn has been invested in Scottish projects in the fields of the arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment. The prize, developed from the Helping Hand award given last year to mark the lottery's 10th anniversary, has been established in recognition of the important work lotteryfunded pr...

Livingston Pays Its Own Tribute to 'a Man of the People'

HEcould well have been forgiven for neglecting his roots given his key roles in the Westminster government, but Robin Cook truly was a man of the people, according to the many eulogies paid to him yesterday at a memorial service in Livingston where he served as MP for 22 years. Around 300 friends and local dignitaries attended the service organised by West Lothian Council to pay tribute to the politician they held in the highest esteem.

'To See Cara Able to Play Outside Is a Pure Joy ' Allergy Sufferer Given Hope by Treatment

CARA Duncan has spent almost every day of her short life swathed in bandages to protect her from the world. So acute and wide-ranging are her allergies that the slightest contact with most everyday objects causes her skin to break out in painful blisters.

Mcconnell Criticised Over Lack of Monitoring for Gbp1.2bn

JACK McConnell's beleaguered efficiency drive will be severely criticised again this week as MSPs are told there is no way of knowing what happens to the predicted GBP1.2bn in savings. Despite the first minister's insistence that "every pound" would be redirected to frontline services, such as teachers or nurses, Scottish Executive officials will not track the money to where it is spent or monitorwhat services it buys.

Scots Leading Hi-Tech Work at St Paul's Lasers Help Save Statues

SCOTTISH archaeologists are using the latest technology to help save the priceless statues of SirChristopherWren's greatest masterpiece. A Glasgow-based team of experts is leading a massive conservation project 150ft up the magnificent baroque edifice of St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Two in Court Over Shooting Death

Titanic Flask Sells for Gbp33,350

Candidate's Remarks Force Labour to React

LABOURwas forced to react to more embarrassing remarks from its candidate in the Glasgow Cathcart by-election yesterday, as the SNP claimed the party's campaign was in chaos. Charlie Gordon was reported to have called Frank McAveety, former culture minister, a "daft wee boy"with "the attention span of a goldfish".

Libdems Out to Be Taken More Seriously Kennedy Heads Party Review Kennedy Heads Party Review Lib Dem Conference

CHARLES Kennedy will use this week's conference in Blackpool to spearhead a fundamental review of Liberal Democrat philosophy in an attempt to position his party as a serious government-inwaiting. The Liberal Democrats are at something of a crossroads.

Pol Ice Ch Ief Challenges Report On Assaults

ASENIOR police chief yesterday challenged the findings of a UN report suggesting people in Scotland were more likely than anyone else in the developed world to be assaulted. Scots were the most likely to be a victim of assault - excluding murders - according to the study of 21 countries.

Strike Threat at Food Plant

Industrial action at a major food-processing firm in England will spread to Scotland if there is no resolution to a row over the staff final salary pension scheme, a trade union warned yesterday. About 500 members of the Transport and General Workers'Union who work at Grampian Foods in Suffolk are to stage a one-day strike on Friday over proposed changes to the scheme.

News Presenter Is Pregnant

Kirsty Young, above, the Channel Five news presenter, is pregnant with her second child. The 36-year-old, who already has a four-year-old daughter called Freya, is due to give birth in the spring.

Rat Found in Hospital Ward

Ahospital has called in exterminators after a rat was spotted in a corridor. Officials at the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow claimed the rodent entered the facility from nearby building works.