Party leaders pay tribute to trade union legend
Thursday 01 October 2009
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EmailScottish First Minister Alex Salmond and Labour leader Iain Gray have set aside political differences to attend the funeral of a prominent trade unionist.
Both men missed First Minister's questions at Holyrood to attend the funeral of former STUC general secretary Bill Speirs (above).
The weekly Holyrood verbal sparring match instead involved the party leaders' respective deputies Nicola Sturgeon and Johann Lamont.
Mr Speirs, who worked for the STUC from 1979 to 2006, died peacefully last week at the age of 57 after a long illness.
He had joined the STUC as an assistant secretary in 1979, becoming deputy general secretary in 1988 and general secretary in 1998.
His death prompted tributes from across the political spectrum.
Former Labour first minister Jack McConnell said: "Scotland has lost a special son.
"Bill Speirs was in the vanguard of the campaign for a Scottish parliament, always putting the national interest before narrow party interests."
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