Newspaper Articles
Scalpay Welcome has Blair smitten and bitten
IT WAS their day in history and the Scalpachs made the most of it. Hardly a home could have need left occupied as men, women and children celebrated what one local called the most momentous day of their lives. It seemed the entire 400-strong population of Scalpay, and many more beyond, turned out to watch the official opening of the bridge linking the island to Harris. Adding to the sense of occasion was the fact that the tartan ribbon was being cut by Tony Blair, the first serving British Prime Minister to make an official visit to the Western Isles.
Mr Blair, accompanied by his wife, Cherie, Donald Dewer, the Scottish Secretary, and Calam MacDonald, the Scottish transport minister, was clearly affected by the reception. He was also clearly affected by the turn out of the Hebridean midges whoa added their own welcome as he emerged from his helicopter. "I want to say how delighted we are with the warmth of our welcome and that so many people came to greet us," he said. "There are a few other little things which have been greeting us too, but I guess that is all part of the Hebridean welcome."
The £7 million bridge, which opened in December is the biggest civil engineering project ever undertaken in the islands and, said Mr Blair, symbolised the government's commitment to outlying areas. He said that for communities to survive and develop in the islands they needed people who were able to live and work there and the importance of a modern infrastructure could not be over stated.
