SNP MSPs are being urged by the top brass to steer clear of foreign holidays this year to avoid embarrassing the party during its "Homecoming" celebrations.
Rank-and-file MSPs were told at a meeting before Christmas that it would be "preferable" if they took holidays in Scotland in 2009.
The SNP Government has set 2009 aside as a "Homecoming year" when it is urging anyone abroad with a Scottish connec
tion to visit the country. Party managers are understood to fear a rash of damaging stories if SNP politicians are seen heading in the opposite direction.
Last week tourism minister Jim Mather, who is to spend his summer holidays in Argyll and Bute, urged Scots to allocate at least one holiday this year to Scotland.
Party chiefs say they are learning the lesson from 2001 when then Labour tourism minister Alasdair Morrison was slammed after taking a holiday in Italy during the foot-and-mouth crisis. But a senior party source denied a 'diktat' had been issued ordering all SNP MSPs and ministers to stay at home this year.
However, one MSP said: "The order went out that it would be preferable in 2009 if MSPs didn't spend time abroad. It makes sense."
Another SNP MSP added: "When you recall what happened to Alasdair Morrison I don't think many of us need any telling of the need to holiday in Scotland this year."
SNP ministers are also pointing out that the weak pound offers a further reason to stay at home this year rather than travel abroad.
The issue of political holidays has long been a subject of huge sensitivity. Former US President Bill Clinton chose his holiday destination after consulting polling evidence about which location might be the most popular.
