The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Hitting streets for your vote Conservatives
As local election campaigning enters the final few days we spent time with vote-seeking Angus candidates
The process of candidates going door to door and introducing themselves to voters might seem slightly old fashioned in the digital age but it is the cornerstone of the Conservative party’s strategy in the Angus local elections.
The Tories are fielding two candidates who have been recognised by the British Honours system in Kirriemuir and Dean ward – Ronnie Proctor MBE and Angus Macmillan Douglas OBE.
Angus, a retired businessman, has spoken to more than 2,500 voters since starting to campaign on January 5.
“Both Ronnie and I were used in our careers to setting an objective and getting on with it,” he said.
“Every door I go to I try to pretend it’s the only door I’m going to that day. For the individual coming to their door this is the one visit and I’ve got one chance to make an impression.
“I’m hoping to speak to 3,000 people before the election.”
Ronnie, who has been a councillor for the past five years after a distinguished 40-year career in the army with The Black Watch, agreed it was important to make a good impression.
“You try to be friendly and approachable,” he said while delivering leaflets in Kirriemuir.
“It can sometimes be an advantage being attached to a political party, sometimes a disadvantage, but at the end of the day I am a Conservative, I’m a Unionist, I believe in these values and I support the Conservative party.
“A lot of people know me in the ward, which helps a lot.”
The Kirriemuir and Dean ward is the only ward where the Conservatives are fielding two candidates and they have split up the ward in an attempt to share the number of first preference votes on the ballot paper.
“The way the transferable vote works we both need to get enough first preferences to get on to the second round of the vote so we’ve split the ward up,” said Angus.
“For example the leaflets going out in Northmuir ask people to vote me for number one and Ronnie for number two and Ronnie’s leaflets in Kirriemuir are the other way round.”