Former Tory leader William Hague visited two key Scottish election battlegrounds on Thursday but skirted round his key opponents in the seats.
David Cameron’s de facto deputy took time out from a hectic, whirlwind helicopter tour of Scotland to outline his passion for the election fight exclusively to The Courier.
Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories have all maintained that the SNP are irrelevant in this UK election, and Mr Hague maintained that approach.
Perth and North Perthshire, and Angus are both held by the SNP but Mr Hague kept his focus on attacking Labour’s UK record.
The SNP’s Pete Wishart holds Perth and North Perthshire with 33.7% of the vote followed by the Tories on 30.4% with Labour (18.7%) and the Lib Dems (16.1).
In 2001 William Hague came to Perth as Tory Party leader but he candidly admits things are a little different this time around.
“Back in 2001 I knew I could not win but I had to carry the flag for the Conservatives,” he remarked as his car whipped him from Perth airport to the High Street for a meet and greet.
“The difference this time is that we can win and change the country.”
Mr Hague believes voters in Perth and North Perthshire can play a crucial role.
“It is precisely this kind of seat that can change Britain for the better,” he said.
“We have come very close to winning it in the last two elections and there is no doubt the result here can change the government.
“We must win this one this time.
“My message to local voters is, ‘You have the power to make the change your vote can be decisive.'”Black WatchThe Tories have traditionally done well in Perth and North Perthshire but the recent decision not to restore the world-famous Black Watch regiment if they come to power has caused some consternation locally.
Mr Hague knows it is an emotional issue but refuses to shoulder any blame.
“The amalgamation of the Scottish regiments happened under Labour,” he said.
“Much as we might love to put a lot of things back to the way they were before 13 years of Labour it is just not possible.
“Having said that we are absolutely committed to maintaining a ‘golden thread’ things like regimental badges would certainly remain,” the shadow foreign secretary continued.
“Furthermore, we would not send brave troops into war zones unless they are properly equipped.
“Indeed a full defence review would be held shortly after the election of a Conservative government.”
Another issue that has been hitting the headlines recently is public spending something else Mr Hague is passionate about.
Local Conservatives have hit out at Perth and Kinross Council after figures obtained by The Courier revealed the local authority’s wage bill had soared by £18 million over the last two years.
“Transparency among public bodies is essential as things stand a lot of money is wasted,” he said.
“We want to keep waste under control and feel money is better left in the pockets of people who have worked hard to earn it.”
Mr Hague continued, “We want to rebuild our reputation here and would stress that we have never given up in Scotland.
“David Cameron is determined to be a prime minister for the whole of the UK.
“Unlike Gordon Brown, he would want to meet the First Minister (Alex Salmond of the SNP).
“We have had received a very positive reception on high streets throughout Scotland, it is all very encouraging.”
Mr Hague said the trip to Perth to meet both the public and party activists was particularly poignant.
“When I was a child I used to come to Perth with my parents for our holidays,” he recalled.
“It holds very fond memories for me.”Angus battleMr Hague’s helicopter also flew in to Montrose yesterday to launch the Tory campaign in Angus.
The seat is another top target for the Tories, requiring just a 4% swing from the SNP to give them victory.
Up against sitting SNP MP Mike Weir is Tory candidate Alberto Costa who has been energetically campaigning around the constituency.
But it wasn’t the SNP that Mr Hague had in his sights as he landed on the Montrose cricket and rugby club’s pitch at Union Park.
He told supporters, “The choice in this election can easily be made in this constituency.’Change or ruin'”The choice is between change or ruin. We can’t go on like this because Labour’s taxes and its tax on jobs will kill recovery.
“This government has managed to borrow more in the last four years than previous governments put together.
“If we are to do something to help small businesses, to help people to save and help the working people, the only way is to vote Conservative.
“Voting for the smaller parties won’t bring about change.”
On paper boundary changes in 2005 should have made the seat more winnable for the Tories.
At the 2001 General Election the SNP comfortably held the seat with a majority of over 3500.
After boundary changes at the last general election the SNP majority dropped to 1600.
The vote last time saw the SNP take 33%, the Tories 29% and Labour and Lib Dems 17% each.
Mr Hague continued, “We want to rebuild our reputation here and would stress that we have never given up in Scotland.
“David Cameron is determined to be a prime minister for the whole of the UK.
“Unlike Gordon Brown, he would want to meet the First Minister (Alex Salmond of the SNP).
“We have had received a very positive reception on high streets throughout Scotland, it is all very encouraging.”
Mr Hague said the trip to Perth to meet both the public and party activists was particularly poignant.
“When I was a child I used to come to Perth with my parents for our holidays,” he recalled.
“It holds very fond memories for me.”Angus battleMr Hague’s helicopter also flew in to Montrose yesterday to launch the Tory campaign in Angus.
The seat is another top target for the Tories, requiring just a 4% swing from the SNP to give them victory.
Up against sitting SNP MP Mike Weir is Tory candidate Alberto Costa who has been energetically campaigning around the constituency.
But it wasn’t the SNP that Mr Hague had in his sights as he landed on the Montrose cricket and rugby club’s pitch at Union Park.
He told supporters, “The choice in this election can easily be made in this constituency.’Change or ruin'”The choice is between change or ruin. We can’t go on like this because Labour’s taxes and its tax on jobs will kill recovery.
“This government has managed to borrow more in the last four years than previous governments put together.
“If we are to do something to help small businesses, to help people to save and help the working people, the only way is to vote Conservative.
“Voting for the smaller parties won’t bring about change.”
On paper boundary changes in 2005 should have made the seat more winnable for the Tories.
At the 2001 General Election the SNP comfortably held the seat with a majority of over 3500.
After boundary changes at the last general election the SNP majority dropped to 1600.
The vote last time saw the SNP take 33%, the Tories 29% and Labour and Lib Dems 17% each.
Mr Hague continued, “We want to rebuild our reputation here and would stress that we have never given up in Scotland.
“David Cameron is determined to be a prime minister for the whole of the UK.
“Unlike Gordon Brown, he would want to meet the First Minister (Alex Salmond of the SNP).
“We have had received a very positive reception on high streets throughout Scotland, it is all very encouraging.”
Mr Hague said the trip to Perth to meet both the public and party activists was particularly poignant.
“When I was a child I used to come to Perth with my parents for our holidays,” he recalled.
“It holds very fond memories for me.”Angus battleMr Hague’s helicopter also flew in to Montrose yesterday to launch the Tory campaign in Angus.
The seat is another top target for the Tories, requiring just a 4% swing from the SNP to give them victory.
Up against sitting SNP MP Mike Weir is Tory candidate Alberto Costa who has been energetically campaigning around the constituency.
But it wasn’t the SNP that Mr Hague had in his sights as he landed on the Montrose cricket and rugby club’s pitch at Union Park.
He told supporters, “The choice in this election can easily be made in this constituency.’Change or ruin'”The choice is between change or ruin. We can’t go on like this because Labour’s taxes and its tax on jobs will kill recovery.
“This government has managed to borrow more in the last four years than previous governments put together.
“If we are to do something to help small businesses, to help people to save and help the working people, the only way is to vote Conservative.
“Voting for the smaller parties won’t bring about change.”
On paper boundary changes in 2005 should have made the seat more winnable for the Tories.
At the 2001 General Election the SNP comfortably held the seat with a majority of over 3500.
After boundary changes at the last general election the SNP majority dropped to 1600.
The vote last time saw the SNP take 33%, the Tories 29% and Labour and Lib Dems 17% each.
Mr Hague continued, “We want to rebuild our reputation here and would stress that we have never given up in Scotland.
“David Cameron is determined to be a prime minister for the whole of the UK.
“Unlike Gordon Brown, he would want to meet the First Minister (Alex Salmond of the SNP).
“We have had received a very positive reception on high streets throughout Scotland, it is all very encouraging.”
Mr Hague said the trip to Perth to meet both the public and party activists was particularly poignant.
“When I was a child I used to come to Perth with my parents for our holidays,” he recalled.
“It holds very fond memories for me.”Angus battleMr Hague’s helicopter also flew in to Montrose yesterday to launch the Tory campaign in Angus.
The seat is another top target for the Tories, requiring just a 4% swing from the SNP to give them victory.
Up against sitting SNP MP Mike Weir is Tory candidate Alberto Costa who has been energetically campaigning around the constituency.
But it wasn’t the SNP that Mr Hague had in his sights as he landed on the Montrose cricket and rugby club’s pitch at Union Park.
He told supporters, “The choice in this election can easily be made in this constituency.’Change or ruin'”The choice is between change or ruin. We can’t go on like this because Labour’s taxes and its tax on jobs will kill recovery.
“This government has managed to borrow more in the last four years than previous governments put together.
“If we are to do something to help small businesses, to help people to save and help the working people, the only way is to vote Conservative.
“Voting for the smaller parties won’t bring about change.”
On paper boundary changes in 2005 should have made the seat more winnable for the Tories.
At the 2001 General Election the SNP comfortably held the seat with a majority of over 3500.
After boundary changes at the last general election the SNP majority dropped to 1600.
The vote last time saw the SNP take 33%, the Tories 29% and Labour and Lib Dems 17% each.