21/03/2014 Reporting Scotland

Tonight on Reporting Scotland. Falkirk's MP hurled insults at

airport workers and racist abuse at police

after drinking on a plane. Eric Joyce says he's now considering his

position as a politician after being convicted for his behaviour. My

instinct is to stay, but I don't know how I will feel in a few days.

The best thing is to wait and see how I feel.

Also on the programme: Scottish Labour unanimously backs plans for

further devolution as Ed Miliband tells his party he'll keep the UK

together. One year on from the extreme snow

and ice-storms, we're back with the islanders on Arran.

Andy Murray says he's "gutted" at losing his coach Ivan Lendal, and is

hunting for a replacement. And they lifted the League Cup, now

the power of The Dons is set to lift an 80s classic to the top of the

music charts. The Falkirk MP Eric Joyce is

considering his position as a politician after he was convicted of

abusive behaviour. He repeatedly hurled insults at baggage handlers

at Edinburgh Airport and also admitted racially abusing a police

officer after drinking on a flight last year. Today he was fined ?1,500

at the city's sheriff court and apologised for his behaviour. Steven

Godden reports. It is a journey he has made before,

Eric Joyce enters a court building to admit his guilt and emerges

afterwards to say sorry. The MP accepts a breach of the peace charge

for what the sheriff described as a prolonged, threatening, a and

fuelled rant. -- drink. I should apologise. To everyone affected. I'm

very embarrassed, I am very sorry it happened and I have been fined and

will pay compensation accordingly. I track the abuse began at Edinburgh

airport. He had been drinking and had left

his phone on the plane. In the baggage terminal, he began shouting

and swearing at members of staff who were visibly shaken when police

arrived. His behaviour continued after his arrest. En route to the

station, the former harm a major called one of the officers fat and

black. On top of a ?1500 fine, he was ordered to pay the office of ?50

and the baggage handler ?100 in compensation. His predecessor in the

constituency said that it should be the final straw. The people of

Falkirk must be fed up. He is really an unfit person to be a

parliamentary representative. I think the sooner he goes, the

better. In 2012, following an assault conviction, Eric Joyce said

he would remain independent MP for Falkirk until the next election. A

position he is now reconsidering. My instinct is to stay. The best thing

is to wait and see how I feel in a few days. The decision is in his own

hands. The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, has

told the BBC that giving Holyood more power is "the right thing to

do". He's promised to deliver further devolution if his party wins

the next UK general election. Mr Miliband was speaking at Labour's

Scottish Conference in Perth which has backed plans for additional tax

and welfare powers to be transferred to the Scottish Parliament. From

Perth, here's our political correspondent Glenn Campbell.

No one spoke against more power for Holyrood, even this one-time critic

was onside. I believe that we have a set of proposals which will not only

enhance the settlement, it will improve people's lives. Only one

speaker argued that the devolution commission was not old enough. We

deny ourselves to shape a tax system in our own image. All those in

favour question mark The vote was unanimous. The conference endorsed

giving control of the first 15p of income tax. It was a package that

the leader said Labour was committed to delivering. I believe this is an

act of good faith. Of course, it would not be free Johann Lamont or

for the next UK governments to revisit the powers if there is a no

vote in the independence referendum. The man who hopes to lead the

Government came to conference to argue that the UK allows Scotland to

share risk and resources. He criticised the First Minister for

promising corporation tax cut in the event of independence. Alex Salmond

used to claim he was a great social democrat. He cannot any more. When

he is advocating the race to the bottom that he used to condemn when

it came for a Tory Government. He has been exposed. Afterwards, he was

asked if you implement Labour's devolution commission plan. Yes, it

is the right thing to do and it is the right way to combine fairness

and redistribution across the United Kingdom with bringing power closer

to people in Scotland. This is the conference where Labour committed to

further devolution. In response to the Labour leader's

speech, the head of the Yes Campaign, Blair Jenkins, said the UK

was incapable of delivering social justice. Describing Mr Miliband's

speech as "brief", Mr Jenkins said it would be a disappointment to many

Labour members. He is talking about the need for greater social justice,

greater quality and fairness. That is something that we have seen that

the UK is incapable of delivering. We have had decades, Labour and

Conservative governments, and at the same time the UK has become one of

the most unfair societies in the developed world. There is nothing

that was said today that would suggest there was any means to

correct at huge imbalance. Let's go to our political editor

Brian Taylor, who's at the Labour conference in Perth. That was the

Yes campaign's response there to Ed Miliband, but how did the speech go

down with his own side? It's gone down well, Sally. Labour are

contented with the outcome. If you recall, one year ago they were in

turmoil about more tax powers for the Scottish parliament. Now by a

combination of lessening the powers and giving concessions, if you're

like, to those who advocate, they have arrived at a situation where

they were able to vote unanimously for the outcome. That is the

internal. The external verdict, Labour argue strongly that this is a

balance of more powers for the Scottish parliament with the clout

of the UK, the clout of the UK's wider tax base to enable social

justice to be facilitated for the people of Scotland and the remainder

of the islands. We heard it from Ed Miliband, we heard it from Anas

Sarwar. The record indicates that UK governance has not produced social

cohesion, quite the opposite. Also, some remarks made at a Fringe

meeting causing a few ripples. Yes, comments by

MSP, she was talking about the business of the Armed Forces and

offered the view that perhaps the military provision may be better

done on a Europe-wide basis. I think the European Union looking towards

the future and perhaps a single defence Force is certainly an idea

that appeals to me, having been a Labour Party member who marched

outside my own party's conference back in 2003 in Glasgow against the

invasion of Iraq. It is certainly an idea that appeals to me to take

defence out of the hands of nation-states and I know that that

is not a view that is commonly shared. Tomorrow, we will hear from

Johann Lamont with her keynote speech, more about social justice

offer. You're watching Reporting Scotland

from the BBC. Still to come on tonight's programme: # Don't you

want me, baby... Why Aberdeen fans are reviving the

80s to celebrate their recent cup success.

Andy Murray opens his heart on the split with his coach and we hear

from the coach who says that Scotland players could be stronger

after a poor Six Nations. Police investigating the

disappearance of a young woman from Dunfermline have been searching a

house in Kilmarnock. Hazel North was reported missing more than two weeks

ago by her sister. From Kilmarnock, Catriona Renton reports.

I am in the long Park area of Kilmarnock. You will see a police

presence outside the flat. I understand that the flat and the

garden have been searched in connection with a missing teenager.

She is called Hazel North, she is 19 years old and I understand she was

last seen by her sister on the 4th of March when she said she was

coming to kill my neck to see a friend. Hazel is five tall, she has

a pale complexion and she is slim. You can see behind me police

activity. I understand there has been a heavy police presence here

since early morning. I have seen friends at officers coming in and

out of the flat and police enquiries are ongoing. Police would like to

hear from anyone who has seen Hazel since the 4th of March or knows

anything about her whereabouts. The former Dunfermline MSP Bill

Walker has been freed from jail after serving half of his term. The

offences were against his three former wives and his stepdaughter.

He left prison this morning. Mr Walker, who denies the charges,

plans to appeal against his conviction. He has a court hearing

for next month. Remember these scenes? A year ago

today, the lights went out on Arran and the Kintyre peninsula. It was

the start of a very cold week for many householders, as engineers

battled through extreme conditions to restore power. Aileen Clarke has

been looking back on a remarkable week of weather and community

spirit. Pylons mangled, poles snapped, power

cut to 15,000 homes on Kintyre and Arran, many of the homes in the

first days after the storm also cut off from roads and even neighbours.

Livestock not the only ones huddling together for warmth. This area was

without power for the whole week, locals using the hotel which had a

generator to escape their freezing homes. Among them, this new dad and

his six-week-old baby. Everyone has been great, especially with the

baby. Everyone has been checking if we need anything. Riley is a toddler

now. His parents are very helpful for the -- grateful for the help

they got. Mountain rescue came with mountains of formula and everything

we could ever need, nappies and everything. It helped out so much.

Just tried to keep him warm. Bottles and things needed to be sterilised,

having no electricity made that difficult. We had a lot of things on

the open fire. Yet we only moved in about a week before, so we did not

know anyone. To be honest, it's kind of worked out well as we got to know

everyone in the village. Further down the coast, there had been so

much snow that the Coastguard were doing supply trips. We have a

95-year-old woman at the track that is needing hot water bottles. Back

to more familiar duties, but the efforts of the Coastguard and the

other emergency services on the island were recognised by winning

the UK resilience team of the year. A feather in a cap meaning that we

beat the Metropolitan Police. Day after day, polled by poll, hundreds

of electricity engineers rebuilt. Never had they seen such destruction

by snow and ice. When the lights went out here, nobody predicted that

it would be a week before some of the people on this island would have

their power back. What was demonstrated on that long and very

cold week was how a small island community could come together to

cope with the largest and most severe storms.

Now for a look at other stories from around the country: Drugs with an

estimated street value of more than ?1.5 million have been seized by

police in two unconnected operations.

The drug commonly known as speed was recovered from a car on the M74 near

Larkhall, while 1100 cannabis plants were seized at this industrial unit

in Glasgow. A man has appeared in court, charged

with murdering a fellow prisoner at Glasgow's Barlinnie jail. John Clark

is alleged to have killed a 22-year-old sex offender in his

cell. The prisoner's body was found in his cell early on Thursday

morning. Two major oil and gas companies say

tax changes made in the budget could lead to billions of pounds of new

investment in the North Sea, and the creation of more than 700 jobs.

Maersk Oil says it will help its Culzean gas project. And BG Group

says it will improve the prospects of its Jackdaw gas field discovery.

Aberdeen's involvement in The Great War is being explored in a major new

exhibition in the city. The Art Gallery has drawn on some of its own

collections, with sketches and photographs from internationally

renowned war artist James McBey, who grew up in Aberdeenshire. He

produced so many iconic pieces, both of destruction in France, entire

forests reduced to splinters, as well as some very unusual pieces.

Del Amitri have joined the line up for this year's Wickerman Festival.

Organisers say it's the group's first festival appearance in over a

decade. The band, whose best known songs include Nothing Ever Happens

and Kiss This Thing Goodbye, will headline on the Saturday night.

Good evening. Andy Murray says he's "gutted" to

have parted company with coach Ivan Lendl and hopes to have a new man in

place before May's French Open. The Wimbledon champion has revealed the

split came over dinner on Saturday night in Miami. Murray's there to

defend his Sony Ericsson title and plays his first match in the small

hours of tomorrow morning against Australia's Matthew Ebden. Kheredine

Idessane reports. For his mum Judy, a trip to BBC

Scotland where she met Olympic hurdler Amy Child and kept a close

eye on the Sport Relief treadmill. Much of the talk of course was about

her younger son's surprise split from his coach of two years, Ivan

Lendl. He wanted to do other things. The time required to make a

difference, you know, is more than what he could offer. Right now. Yes,

it is a shame. It seems the end of the affair was tough for his mother

as well. It is very sad. I am still in mourning. I think we will miss

Ivan Lendl. We used to call him Mr Lendl. He is great fun to have

around. And they learned a lot from him. Lots and lots. So, who will be

the next Andy Murray meant for? His hero growing up, Andre Agassi, and

three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe could be considered. Mats

Wilander is another contender. Murray is also a fan of veteran

coach Bob Brett. Often with ex-players, the relationships don't

tend to last for a long period. More than three or four years. So I need

to decide exactly what I want now, if I want to go down that route

again or do something different. Andy Murray has not won a tournament

since Wimbledon. He has yet to beat a top 20 player this year. His best

win of 2014 game against the world number 123 in Acapulco. He will hope

to turn things around a next week in Miami, his home from home where he

is defending champion. The Glasgow Warriors head-coach

Gregor Townsend says his returning Scotland players will be

strengthened rather than damaged by the recent Six Nations campaign.

Scotland had several heavy defeats and only one win in the tournament.

Internationals like Duncan Weir, Chris Cusiter and Alex Dunbar are

back for the Warriors, who Townsend believes are still good enough to

make the end of season PRO12 play offs.

Eight games back-to-back, most games have sex with rakes. Six of those

eight games are at home so we know it is going to be an exciting run.

Some big aims home and away. -- most games have six or eight.

Now, a look at what else is happening across Scottish sport.

The Celtic manager Neil Lennon says he expects to lose a few players

from his squad this summer. But he's hoping to bring in plenty of new

faces too. We have an extensive list of players we are looking to bring

in this summer. After their stoppage time win

against St Mirren last week, Dundee United are away to the Premiership's

bottom club Hearts tonight. If Hearts lose, they'll be one defeat

away from relegation. This is the last time you'll see

Aberdeen lifting the League Cup this week on Reporting Scotland. We're

showing it again because they'll be given a guard of honour by

Kilmarnock before their Premiership match at Pittodrie tomorrow. I think

they deserve that. It is a fantastic result for them. They have had a

really good season. We must go and make sure we frustrate them.

St Johnstone manger Tommy Wright won't be in the technical area

tomorrow when his team play Hibs. He's recovering from gall bladder

surgery. He'll still pick the team, though.

Fancy a chunk of Murrayfield turf before it's ripped up? Think again.

Edinburgh rugby are inviting fans on to the pitch after tonight's match

against Ulster, but are warning them not to take bits home. It's hoaching

with microscopic worms! There's commentary of Edinburgh v

Ulster and tonight's football in Sportsound on air now. BBC Radio

Scotland 810 medium wave. And for all the breaking sports stories, go

to our BBC Sports Scotland website. Where else? Always nice to see

Aberdeen with that League Cup. You are going to see it again. It

may have been the mid '90s when Aberdeen last won the Scottish

League Cup but their victory last weekend is actually reviving part of

the 1980s. Fans have adopted the Human League's hit "Don't You Want

Me Baby" by changing the words to "Peter Pawlett Baby" after one of

their star players. And the man who co-wrote the song says Dons' fans

have made one of his dreams come true. Kevin Keane reports. FANS

SING. It was a celebratory atmosphere and

that the Scottish League Cup final, 40,000 Aberdeen fans helped revive

this 1980s classic. Peter Pawlett Baby. For the

Edinburgh-based former human league band hook or all the original, a

particularly proud moment as thousands of people download the

song. It is quite a surprise. Fantastic. Unbelievable. It has been

a minor ambition for me to have a song that someone takes and uses as

a football chant. A little bit of a dream come true. It was 1995 when

Aberdeen fans last had something to sing about. A proud city turned out

in force then to welcome the winning team. On Sunday, those scenes will

be repeated as the Scottish League Cup is again paraded through the

city centre. It is heading to a civic reception for the players and

no doubt had it makes its way along Union Street, Aberdeen fans will be

in full voice with that song. # Don't. Don't you want me? # You

know I can't believe it when I hear that you won't see me.

Back then, artist had to sell many singles to make it to the top ten

but the power of the fans is impressive. It is something we

should be pleased about. It brings a smile to people's faces. Only one

person in the dressing room knew who the Human League where, which is a

bit worrying. The whole team has got behind the song to reach the top

ten. But the whole city needs to get behind it as well.

Let's go to Christopher to find out what we can expect from the weekend

weather. what we can expect from the weekend

We have got the wet globe up tonight. It is wet and miserable

outside at the moment but hopefully the weekend, it is not too bad,

pretty chilly. Good evening. We are watching a band of rain across the

country at the moment, it is persistent, once a clear is behind

it we will continue to see a number of wintry showers and rice of ice as

well. -- a risk of ice as well. It is cold and icy and further wintry

showers across the Northwest again, further snowfall across the hills

and the mountains. A cold night to come, temperatures down close to

freezing in the countryside. To start the day tomorrow, it is a

cold, icy start in places, still those showers in the Northwest being

brought in on that fresh, south-westerly breeze but through

the central belt, the south and east, it is largely dry and bright

to start the weekend but the winds move more westerly and we will see

showers come further south and east. By mid-afternoon tomorrow, expect

some showers, in parts of Lanarkshire by mid-afternoon over

towards the capital, through Fife and Angus as well. Further west, the

showers are frequent through the day and I think nothing too heavy, some

hail and under mixed in, across the hills and high ground we will see

wintry showers at times as well. -- hail and thunder. Showers freak and

for the Northern Isles. If you are hill walking are climbing, across

the western ranges the showers will be of a wintry nature, the winds are

strong enough for a chill and the temperatures are not good. Fantastic

visibility. Across the eastern ranges, it stars of dry, bright and

cold but later on we see that shower risk increase. If you are thinking

about heading off skiing, it will be windy, but plenty of fantastic

visibility around. Later on, we see wintry showers making their way

further eastward. The rest of the afternoon, into the evening and

overnight, we hold onto that Northwest wind and those showers are

fairly frequent and widespread across the country. Looking ahead to

want the second half of the weekend on Sunday, we have got this ridge of

high pressure pushing its way in and that will settle things down,

certainly across western and southwestern parts of the country.

However, during the morning on Sunday some fairly heavy showers in

the North around Inverness area, we could see snow briefly in lower

levels and improving by the afternoon in the west and

south-west, still quite chilly although winds will be lighter. A

cold night as we head through towards Monday, but to start the new

week plenty of sunshine around. It will be crisp, cold and clouding

over with rain in the west by mid-afternoon and that worked its

way in across all parts by Tuesday. Thank you. Now a reminder of

tonight's main news. On the day President Putin signed a declaration

formally absorbing Crimea into Russia, Europe has agreed closer

relations with Ukraine. In a show of support for the country, the EU also

issued more sanctions against individuals in Russia, aimed at

President Putin's inner circle. Eric Joyce, the Falkirk MP, is

considering his position as a politician, after being convicted of

abusive behaviour. He repeatedly hurled insults at baggage handlers

and racially abused a police officer at Edinburgh Airport last year.

Today he was fined ?1,500. Police investigating the disappearance of

young women have been searching a property in Kilmarnock in Ayrshire.

The 19-year-old Hazel North has been missing for more than two weeks. She

is described as five foot eight tall, slim and with blonde hair.

Police are appealing for anyone who has seen her to get in touch. I will

be back just after the Ten O'Clock News. Goodbye.