Kissing & Cuddling

Here's a story from Sky News referring to the latest political 'scandal'. Of course, I would imagine this story has been kept up someone's sleeve for a while. The SNP's challenge to Labout plus Mr MacNeil's direct involvement with the instigation of the cash for honours investigation is bound to have earnt him a few enemies.

It is also touches one of the big debates in political communication. It's the issue of how much damage you do to the reputation of politics and politicians in general when you rubbish your opponent. Negative campaigning is a marketing trick which politcics has embraced without much benefit!

'Kissing And Cuddling'
Updated: 18:47, Sunday April 08, 2007


An MP has made a public apology to his family after a newspaper revealed he had a "drunken romp" with two teenagers.

The SNP's Angus MacNeil admitted his part in an incident, where he was reported to have kissed the girls in a hotel room.

He described the meeting as "wrong and stupid".

It was Mr MacNeil's complaint to police that sparked the ongoing cash for honours investigation.

The Western Isles MP, 36, apologised for the "embarrassment and hurt" caused by his actions.

Judie Morrison and Catriona Watt had told the Sunday Mail about the encounter in Shetland, in July 2005, when they were aged 17 and 18.

It was reported to have taken place weeks before Mr MacNeil's wife gave birth to their child.

Mr MacNeil said in a statement: "There is no allegation that anything further happened and I wish to make that absolutely clear.

"It was a lapse of judgement two years ago, for which I am sorry."

Judie and Catriona, from the Isle of Lewis, who study music in Glasgow, had been on a pub crawl when they met the MP in a hotel.

Judie, now 19, said he bought them lots of drinks before asking if they wanted to go to his room.

The student told the Sunday Mail: "We all ended up kissing and cuddling together but I was not kissing and cuddling with Catriona."