Battle of the Old Bill in tight election race
Two former police officers claim they can put decency back into politics in their fight for Westminster.
Tory Martin Dowey and SNP candidate Allan Dorans, have vowed to keep the gloves on in their battle at the ballot box.
The duo are first to declare in what is widely expected to be a two- horse race for the Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock seat.
And they claim their mutual respect will give the electorate a grown- up campaign.
Mr Dowey, who leads the Conservative group on South Ayrshire Council, will bid to retain the seat currently held by Bill Grant.
A majority of 2774 is being defended and Nationalist HQ fancy the constituency is ripe for the taking.
Mr Dowey, a former PC who worked across Ayrshire for more than 20 years, said: “In terms of political beliefs Allan and I are never going to agree.
“I want the union to remain intact and he wants independence for Scotland.
“Evidently that’s what this campaign will come down to for both of us but just because we believe in different things doesn’t mean we can’t get along. And that’s the problem with the current debate in a lot of ways.
The reality is that one of us is going to be delighted and one will be left very disappointed but we are both here wanting to do the best for our constituency and that won’t end on the night of the election.”
A string of high- profile MPs have announced their departure from parliament, citing the threatening nature of politics.
And, with many long since tiring of the Brexit debate, candidates could face a battle to mobilise their voters.
But Mr Dorans, who formerly led the SNP group in South Ayrshire and was a DI in the Met, said: “People died for the right to vote and it’s important we respect that.
“The political debate in this country has become nasty and we need to rise above the hate that now exists. There will be no personal attacks from either side of this campaign and that’s important in giving people a grown- up debate.
“There’s no doubt that I and Martin have a bond between us, having both been cops.
“We might have worked at different times and in different places but the link is there.
“Hopefully we can use that to provide a proper campaign for people.
“We are both well known from our time on South Ayrshire Council and hopefully that gives people another degree of trust.”
We are both here wanting to do the best for our constituency Martin Dowey