Conservatives hope to spark revival in city
Political Correspondent N parts of Glasgow, Margaret Thatcher is still a big electoral liability for the Conservatives.
But for the new young batch of candidates she is a history lesson who had left office years before their political awareness kicked in and before some were even born.
The Tories have a young team of candidates in the city hoping to get a foothold in the council and be part of a revival, boosted by the relative success of last year’s Holyrood election.
On a cold April evening in the south side of Glasgow three of the candidates under the age of 30 are out enthusiastically knocking doors on behalf of their colleague David Meikle, in the Pollokshields ward.
It’s not the Iron Lady that inspired them, not even David Cameron and George Osborne from their years in number 10 and 11 Downing Street.
Instead they put their joining of the Tory ranks down to current Scottish leader, Ruth Davidson, and want to be part of her bid to revive the party in Scotland.
Mr Meikle has been the sole Conservative, flying the blue flag alone at the city chambers, so much that he
Iwas known among councillors as David the Tory. Euan Blockley hopes to join him. At just 19 he was born at the start of the Blair era and was still at school when David Cameron walked back into Number 10 in 2015.
He comes from a family who were not Conservatives but who have since come around, he said.
For Euan, it was local issues that got him involved and prompted him to stand for election in the Linn ward.
He said: “I got involved because there was a pothole at the end of my street and it never got fixed.
“I complained to one of my councillors but I never heard anything back. So I thought, I’ll stand myself.”
He said the local issues that people have to put up with on a daily basis are what gets him out campaigning.
He added: “The constitution is important but so are the bread and butter issues in local communities.”
He only joined the party last year after watching the leaders’ debates during the Holyrood election campaign.
With no history of Conservative support in his family or peer group he said the backing he has had from his parents has been positive.
He said they are both teachers and were keen for him to form his own opinions and follow his own path.
He said: “My parents are proud that I am standing for election at the age of 19 and said it takes courage.”
He said Ruth Davidson provided the inspiration for him to join and said the leader has also had an effect on his parents.
Like all candidates he said the reaction from voters have been positive.
Judy Lockhart, is standing for the first time as the Tory candidate in Cardonald.
The 28 year-old auditor only joined the party last year.
She said her decision to stand is viewed as strange by her friends.
She said: “Some friends don’t get why I am spending my weekends delivering leaflets and out campaigning but they are supportive and I think they talk more of an interest because of it.”
She says Ruth Davidson was her motivation for joining and becoming active in the party.
She said: “She is a woman, which helped, and she is a good speaker and understands people.”
Judy has been in Glasgow for three years for work, having moved from East Lothian.
She has enjoyed the campaign experience and said she would consider standing again if she is not successful this time.
Even in a ward split between La- bour and SNP she said said: “I’m hoping to win.”
Ade Aibinu, aged 28, is standing in Victoria Park in the west of the city. But on this night he is out helping the Meikle campaign.
On the doorstep his personable, friendly manner is getting a good reception. No doors are slammed shut and he is allowed to say his piece, even if most back other parties.
Ade decided to join the Conservatives in 2015
He said: “I have always felt Conservative in my general outlook. The Conservatives are the party of low tax but of growing the tax base and not allowing people to be in a situation where they rely on benefits.”
Ade moved to Glasgow from Eng- land in 2008 and is currently doing a research degree at Glasgow Caledonian University.
He said his family are supportive but don’t really understand what he is doing.
He said others are surprised when they see him campaigning.
He said: “They see a young candidate from a different background and it takes them aback.”
But he said his involvement fits with the party ethos.
He added: “We are trying to appeal to a broad base.”
If your image of young Conservatives is the offspring of rich farmers or landowners, rugby club boors and trust fund heiresses, it may be time to think again.