The SNP’s Westminster candidates in Perthshire have condemned vandals who tore down a series of SNP banners and posters.
The campaign paraphernalia was attached to private properties in the Strathtay area.
SNP hopefuls Pete Wishart, standing for Perth and North Perthshire, and Tasmina Ahmed-Sheik, fighting for the Ochil and South Perthshire seat, denounced the vandalism in a joint statement.
They said the matter is being investigated by police and have asked for any further information about a silver car which was spotted in the area at the time.
“We are appalled at the wanton destruction of our posters and banners in the Strathtay area and this vandalism has been reported to the police,” the pair said. “It would seem that as well as vandalising our banners the perpetrators have been accessing private property to remove posters placed in gardens raising concerns about breaches of privacy.
Seems like there has been a co-ordinated effort to vandalise banners and posters of @TasminaSheikh and me in Dunked and Strathtay. Pathetic.
— Pete Wishart (@PeteWishart) April 19, 2015
“Many of our members have reported this vandalism to the police and we know that the police are taking it very seriously. There have been witness sightings of a number of young men in a silver car who seem to have been involved with this activity and that information has also been passed on to the police. We would be grateful if anyone who has any further information which might to this matter could also pass it on to the police.”
Mr Wishart added: “There are always isolated incidents of posters being removed or defaced during an election campaign but the worrying thing about these incidents is the scale and level of co-ordination that has obviously been involved.
“Our members have every right to display political party banners on their property and we will not be deterred by these activities.
“We would not condone such behaviour from our own supporters and hope that all parties contesting the General Election in Perthshire will join us in condemning this unnecessary vandalism.”
Our advan is off of the road today due to vandalism. It shall be back touring #DundeeEast tomorrow thanks to @AWsigns pic.twitter.com/hdP2lTfm3s
— Lesley Brennan (@LesleyEastend) April 20, 2015
There are also claims of anti-campaign vandalism in Dundee East.
Labour candidate Lesley Brennan says the party’s van is off the road because of vandals.