Grant tops the Bill for Tories
Party piles in ground offensive as race hots up
Confident Conservatives have gone on a war footing in Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock – by making the seat one of their top targets.
Party bosses in Edinburgh reckon Bill Grant is on the verge of an upset on June 8, the Post has learned.
He is on such a high that he is close to being in the top10 of Tory hopes for a gain among the 59 Scottish seats.
St rategists have now propelled the seat to the head of their thinking, alongside top targets like Dumfries and Galloway.
And they are set to throw everything at overturning an 11,265 majority held by the SNP.
Bookies have slashed the odds on former South Ayrshire councillor Grant dethroning his ex- chamber colleague Corri Wilson from 6- 1 to 10- 3.
The SNP candidate remains the firm favourite at the boomakers with odds of 1- 6, which have lengthened from a starting point of 1- 10.
Tory chiefs believe he can tackle the SNP’s lead following a huge momentum shift in the last few weeks.
The miner’s son admitted on Tuesday he was “a lot closer to the top of the mountain” since launching his campaign.
Bill, 65, said: “Do I feel this is an election we can win? Yes, I absolutely do.
“It’s a huge ask when you look at the majority of the incumbent MP and I meant it when I said I had a mountain to climb.
“But put it this way – I am getting a lot closer to the top of that mountain with each passing day.
“The response on the doors is strong and our message is getting out there.”
Grant heads into the election off the back of a ten- year stint as councillor for Ayr West.
And he claims the battle could turn into one of the most eagerly anticipated of election night.
He said: “I’d like to think my record in council speaks for itself. I was never someone who was shy to speak out and I never hid away.
“I’d hope I can be all things to all people in some respects.
“I’m a Rankinston boy, my dad Jock worked in the local colleries and I’m out there trying to represent everyone.
“If I lose this, it won’t be for lack of effort.”