The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Wishart can see off Tory challenge: Sturgeon
SNP candidate admits party is ‘in the battle of our lives’
Nicola Sturgeon has declared she is “very confident” that Pete Wishart will survive a Conservative campaign in Perth and North Perthshire.
The Tories became the largest party in Perth and Kinross Council following Thursday’s local elections and claimed around 1,500 more votes than the SNP across the Westminster constituency, albeit with a lower turnout than is expected in the general election.
This prompted Nationalist candidate Mr Wishart to admit the party is “in the battle of our lives” locally, but the First Minister was more combative during a visit to Perth’s Inveralmond Brewery where she was shown the first phase of a £750,000 expansion.
She said: “Pete’s a fantastic local MP with a lot of support locally and of course the issue at the heart of this election, not just in Perth and Perthshire but across Scotland, is a very straightforward one.
“Tory MPs from Scotland will be a rubber stamp for Theresa May for her reckless approach to Brexit and the cuts we know the Tories will want to impose.
“SNP MPs like Pete Wishart will be MPs who go to Westminster to stand up for Scotland and make Scotland’s voice heard and protect Scotland’s interests.”
Mr Wishart added: “We know we are in the battle of our lives in Perth and North Perthshire. There is no getting away from the fact the Conservatives did very well in the local elections. “Now we are in the battle for real. “I have been in this situation before, where they have arrogantly claimed they will take the seat but I am confident of seeing them off again, without taking any votes for granted.”
Asked how a strong showing by her party on June 8 would affect the chances of another independence referendum, Ms Sturgeon said it would “reinforce the voice of the Scottish Parliament and the mandate of the Scottish Government”.
The Conservatives became the largest party in last week’s council elections, increasing their number of representatives across the region from 10 to 17, while the SNP’s fell from 17 to 15.
Within the wards contained in the constituency, the parties tied at 11 councillors each but the Tories gained more first preference votes.
Ian Duncan, the Scottish Conservative MEP and candidate for Perth and North Perthshire, accused Ms Sturgeon of having a “brass neck” with her attack on his party.
He said: “It is her reckless pursuit of a second referendum on independence which threatens Scottish jobs and Scottish interests and while schools in the area struggle to find teachers.
“She promised not to bring it back for a generation – instead she is trying to use Brexit to push it back on the table.
“Whether you voted Leave or Remain in the EU referendum, our best interests are now served by moving on from yet more uncertainty.”
Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon refused to back a Labour plan pledging that no one under £80,000 should pay more tax.
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said at the weekend he wants to protect 95% of workers via a “personal tax guarantee” ensuring no rises in national insurance contributions (NICs) or VAT over the course of the five-year parliament, due to end in 2022, for anyone earning less than £80,000.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Well, the Scottish Government controls income tax now and we have made very clear we don’t think low and middle earners should be paying more in income tax. Equally we don’t think the time is right for massive tax cuts for the top 10% of income earners. We will set out our own views on tax when we launch our manifesto.”