At-risk MPs launch bid to hold their seats

The sole Tory and Labour survivors of the SNP landslide have launched campaigns to defend their Westminster seats.

Ian Murray, the Labour MP for Edinburgh South, opened his bid for re-election on June 8 by warning the country faces an “abyss” under a Conservative Government.

Scottish secretary David Mundell, who is the only Tory MP in Scotland, is trying to protect his majority of 798 votes.

The representative for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale was in Annan yesterday, where he was basing his campaign on fighting a second independence referendum.

In Edinburgh Mr Murray, whose 2,637 majority is the fifth smallest in the country, criticised Theresa May for holding a “general election while Rome burns”. He said the Prime Minister should instead concentrate on getting the “best and softest” Brexit deal for the UK.

Mr Murray, who resigned from the shadow cabinet in protest over Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, said he would take up a role in any Labour Government if asked to serve.

His chances of holding his seat are “strong”, the former shadow Scottish secretary said, adding: “Another Conservative MP merely bolsters a hard Brexit, an SNP MP bolsters an independence referendum.

“People in this constituency understand that.”

Fifty-six seats in Scotland were won by the SNP in 2015, with the remaining seat of Orkney and Shetland held by Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael.

Labour MP Ian Murray with cakes backing the party’s campaign.