Lib Dem reaction

Charles Kennedy represented the village of Evanton in Easter Ross for many years. But boundary changes mean the area is now in the far north Westminster constituency. I canvassed the village with Jamie Stone and he got a fine reception.

As we knocked on doors I sensed the mood changing. People were fed up with the SNP’S demand for a second independence referendum. And they were hostile towards Nicola Sturgeon. Why can’t she concentrate on our schools, the Wick maternity crisis and the lack of rural buses, was the common refrain. I headed home thinking Jamie has a real chance to win. And so it proved.

The constituency was one of four that returned a Lib Dem MP this week. Jo Swinson proved that former government ministers can come back and win. She was helped by an opponent who seemed more unpopular in his own party than with the others. Christine Jardine’s strong performance in west Edinburgh was built on the campaigning prowess of Alex Cole Hamilton.

If the SNP persists with indyref2 then the next four years of this Scottish Parliament term will be like the last two years. The Lib Dems will contrast the need for sustained improvement in our schools, the health service and investment in mental health with the Nationalists’ obsession. The SNP have a simple choice. That is the lesson of Thursday.