General election 2019 it’s may day in milnathort as former pm hits campaign trail But opponent says area is“scunnered”
Former prime minister Theresa May visited Perth and Kinross this week in a bid to persuade voters to back Luke Graham in next month’s general election.
Mrs May knocked on doors in Milnathort and Kinross, and visiting a number of local businesses as part of the election campaign in Ochil and South Perthshire.
During her visit she spoke to voters and stopped off at Heaven Scent Cafe, the CHAS charity shop, Ferrier and MacKinnon Optometrists, Loch Leven laundry, Cashmere at Loch Leven and Unorthodox Roaster.
But despite her appearance, SNP candidate John Nicolson insisted voters in the region were “scunnered by Tory chaos”.
Mr Nicholson is looking to take the seat from Mr Graham, who holds it for the Conservatives. Iliyan Stefanov from the Liberal Democrats, Labour’s
Lorna Robertson, and Stuart Martin from UKIP will also contest the seat.
Speaking exclusively to the PA when out in Milnathort, Mrs May said Mr Graham had been “a greal local MP”.
She added: “I am confident Luke will be re-elected.
“People want a government that can enable this country to get Brexit sorted and move on to a better future with great trade deals, bringing jobs across the whole of the UK.
“People want a local MP who is a strong voice for them, he can be, he has been and he will be.”
She added: ““People should vote for Luke if they want to stop a second independence referendum and another [European] referendum vote.”
The PA was able to quiz Mrs May, who was British prime minister from July 2016 until this summer, on a number of key local issues.
When asked about the growing number of people in the region relying on food banks over the past 10 years, she said: “We don’t want a situation where anyone needs to go to a food bank.
“We need good, well-paid jobs for people and a welfare system that works to get support to those in need.
“Universal Credit is helping to get people into work, and that is important.”
Mrs May also insisted farmers in the constituency would benefit from a Conservative government, saying: “We understand the needs local farmers have, and guys like Luke Graham have spoken up in the House of Commons for their needs.
“We know how important the agriculture sector is in Scotland.”
When it came to the issue of the lack of good broadband to rural areas like Kinross-shire, Mrs May placed the blame on the SNP and Labour.
She said: “The problem here is the SNP has not been doing its bit in rural areas.
“We recognise the importance of broadband but we need investment in terms of broadband.