Nat voters aren’t in favour of IndyRef2
unionists whose support he now needs. Equally, his description of Blairites in the Labour Party as “an embarrassing incontinent old relative who you might go and visit occasionally” will not have impressed pensioners.
Duncan said: “I met an SNP member who felt the need to apologise for Pete and his public pronouncements.
“There does seem to be a groundswell of opinion that at a time of division they would like an MP who will try to heal those wounds rather than build on them.”
Wishart is unapologetic for his online blunders, blaming them on the journalists he believes are “obsessed” with what is said on social media.
But both men are agreed on the big issue that definitely is preoccupying voters – the prospect of a second independence referendum.
Duncan added: “I’ve been quite surprised by the reaction on the doorsteps. Clearly there are unionists who do not want one but we knew that.
“What’s been more surprising is the number of SNP supporters who don’t wa nt anot her independence referendum right now either.
“They say they want to deal with Brexit first and then they’ll get to the independence question, or they simply don’t believe they would win it.
“If the core pol icy is not even supported by their voters I think you can conclude that it is not a popular one.”
Duncan believes disenchantment with the SNP’s record in Government is also helping him.
Wishart is honest enough to admit the Tories’ “No referendum” strategy is gaining traction.
But he’s confident the remaining days of the contest will see the focus shift to domestic issues – like the economy and protection of pensioners – where the Tories are weak.
Wishart said: “Sometimes you feel like you are fighting against the No Second Referendum party rather than the Conservatives because the singularity and the focus of their campaigning is all about that and very little else.
“I think what is now increasingly the case is that people are starting to see through what is very much a constitutional smokescreen, a diversion tactic, to try to keep people off the real Conservative agenda.”
It’s only two years since the SNP won 56 of Scotland’s 59 Westminster seats. It’s astonishing a fortress like Perthshire could be vulnerable so soon.
But as the only MP to have appeared on Top of the Pops, Pete Wishart knows better than most that amazing popularity can disappear just as suddenly as it arrived. I’ll be voting for the Conservatives because I don’t want another referendum. I’ve voted for the SNP in the past but I wouldn’t do it now. That Alex Salmond told us the referendum would be once in a generation. Well, how long does he think a generation is? They’re the best of a bad bunch. I have tended to vote Conservative in the past because I want to see people get back into work and off benefits. I also voted to Leave the European Union so I am happy with Brexit.