ONE of Labour's biggest celebrity supporters, One Foot in the Grave star Richard Wilson, yesterday said he was disappointed with the party over its handling of welfare reforms and the arts.
The Greenock-born actor said the single parent's allowance had been ''badly handled'' while the cuts to the arts budget had been a ''terrible shock''.
He campaigned in Dumfries with Tony Blair in the run-up to the May election, but yesterday warned the party to be ''very careful that we don't lose sight of what the Labour Government is supposed to be about''.
Wilson said: ''I think the single parents' allowance was pretty badly handled, although there are sounds now that the cuts aren't going to be as stringent as they were. But it is quite disappointing.
''Obviously the whole system of benefits have to be looked at, but I think we have to be very careful that we don't lose sight of what the Labour Government is supposed to be all about.''
But Wilson stressed he was still supportive of much of what the party did and said they would have to be given time to settle into being the party of Government.
The actor, famous for the character of Victor Meldrew, added: ''I am still a supporter of the Government. I think in many areas they are doing very well and I think we have got to give them a chance.''
Wilson, who is also patron of Disability Scotland, was in Glasgow promoting the charity's gala ball, which is being supported by Railtrack, to be held in Edinburgh on March 7.
The charity hopes to raise around #15,000 to help its work to secure equal rights for disabled people, as well as providing support and a voice for disabled people throughout the country.
The actor will be the after-dinner speaker at the event and he urged the public to support charities like Disability Scotland, which carry out such a vital role by keeping the issue of disabled people in the news and on the Government's agenda.
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