The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Indyref2 caused SNP’s slide, beaten Tory says
Candidate who was only 21 votes short says tide is turning toward his party
The Tory candidate who got SNP veteran Pete Wishart on the ropes in one of the general election’s closest-fought bouts has said the tide is turning against Scotland’s nationalists.
Ian Duncan was just a handful of votes away from replacing Mr Wishart as the MP for Perth and North Perthshire.
After two recounts, Mr Wishart was declared the winner by just 21 votes.
However, his impressive majority of more than 9,600 was shattered.
“We knew from the outset that we were in the fight of our lives,” he said. “I knew that a near 10,000 majority meant nothing in this battle.”
Mr Duncan, an MEP, said the election had demonstrated there was “no appetite” for another independence vote.
“Naturally I’m disappointed to have come so close to winning but I am proud of what my team achieved here in Perth and North Perthshire,” he said.
“To have reduced the majority to only 21 is a real achievement and I would like to thank each and every one of those who voted for me, as well all those who helped in the campaign.”
He added: “The Conservatives fell just short here this time around but there is no doubt that our party is on the way up under the dynamic leadership of Ruth Davidson.
“It is clear from results across Scotland that the tide has turned for the SNP and voters across Scotland have no appetite for a second independence referendum.
“I know that the team of new Scottish Conservative MPs will play an important role in the coming parliament and I look forward to working with them in my role as Scotland’s Conservative MEP.”
In the neighbouring Ochil and South Perthshire constituency, the Conservatives’ Luke Graham secured a surprise win over the SNP’s Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh.
“We knew it was going to be very tight going into the last few weeks. You could sense it on the doorstep,” he said. “I fought here in 2015 and it was very different – it was clear we were going to come third then.
“The people sent the SNP a clear message tonight: We don’t want to be dragged back into a second independence referendum. There’s enough divisions with Brexit and what have you.”
Ms Ahmed-Sheikh, who previously stood for the Conservatives and Labour, took to social media to thank her staff and supporters. “It’s been an honour to represent the fantastic people of Ochil and South Perthshire and I wish my successor well,” she said.
We don’t want to be dragged back into a second referendum. There’s enough divisions with Brexit