Davidson tips Ross for Moray victory
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TORY candidate Douglas Ross could be part of a surge against the SNP, the party’s leader north of the border has claimed.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson was in Buckie this afternoon (Friday) as part of a whistlestop tour of the north-east. Taking to the stump in Forres, Fochabers and Buckie with Mr Ross, who aims to unseat the SNP’s Angus Robertson, she said that the June 8 general election could see voters register their desire to focus on bread and butter, rather than constitutional, issues.
"For the first time, certainly in my adult life, we’re seeing an election in Scotland which is a two–horse race between the Conservatives and the SNP," she told the Advertiser.
"We’ve got a lot of excellent candidates like Douglas, who is embedded in his local community and will be a great advocate for Moray. We’re taking our messages to doorsteps around the country.
"In the 2015 tsunami in Scotland only one aspect of the country politically was represented, but Scotland is more than one stripe.
"This election is a chance to show not everyone north of the border is a nationalist. It’s a chance to send a message on issues like education and the economy which deserve attention rather than focusing solely on the constitution.
"This has been a big issue on the doorsteps; people are telling us we’ve been there with an independence referendum and only the Conservatives can stand up to the SNP on this."
As the campaign enters its final week before the polling stations open at 7am on Thursday, Mr Ross was full of confidence that he could overturn Mr Robertson’s 9065 majority earned in 2015.
He said; "I’m feeling very positive in what is a two-horse race here in Moray.
"It’s wonderful to have Ruth out with us today knocking on doors, speaking to people. What is very clear is the fact that she is a widely respected leader.
"The SNP have held this seat for decades and people are telling me they want a change. They are fed up with the SNP’s continual centralisation and taking communities like Buckie for granted.
"We’re finding that many former SNP supporters and people who voted Yes in the independence referendum are turning to the Conservatives."
Among the key policy pledges Mr Ross highlighted was the promise to remove Britain from the Common Fisheries Policy which has been by the majority of Scottish fishermen.
Joining Mr Ross and Mr Robertson on the ballot paper will be Independent candidate Anne Glen, Labour’s Jo Kirby and Alex linklater for the Lib Dems.
