Scotland on Sunday reports that the Scottish Conservative Party is targeting eleven seats in the General Election, including that of the Chancellor, Alistair Darling:
- Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, David Mundell MP (our only current Scottish MP);
- West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Alex Johnstone MSP;
- Angus, Alberto Costa;
- Argyll and Bute, Gary Mulvaney;
- Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, John Lamont MSP;
- Dumfries and Galloway, former Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, Peter Duncan;
- Edinburgh South, Neil Hudson;
- Edinburgh South West, Jason Rust;
- Perth and North Perthshire, Peter Lyburn;
- East Renfrewshire, Richard Cook;
- Stirling, Bob Dalrymple.
All candidates in these target seats are men.
Key to the Tory strategy is an attempt to paint the SNP as "ineffective" at Westminster. An internal Tory poll poll of 1,000 Scottish voters found that 74% agreed that the SNP stood up for Scotland but was not effective when it came to Westminster.
David McLetchie MSP - tasked with coordinating the Scottish party's campaign - commented:
"If we get a confused election result it is going to be that much more difficult to pull the economy out of recession. Scots are voting to elect a British government and the only party that can provide an alternative to five more years of Labour government are the Conservatives."
Team Cameron have a high opinion of McLetchie and are considering putting him in the Lords to coordinate a Conservative government's relationship with Scotland should David Cameron become Prime Minister. Mr Cameron has already promised regular meetings with Annabel Goldie in those circumstances.
Recent polling suggested that the Tories still have a mountain to climb north of the border.
Tim Montgomerie
1pm: Press release from the Scottish party:
"David McLetchie has been appointed British General Election Campaign Manager for the Conservatives in Scotland. David Mundell MP, Shadow Secretary of State for "It is great news that David has agreed to our request to take charge of the running of the British General Election campaign in “This British General Election will be a two horse race in Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, says: "David Mundell and I were clear that David McLetchie was the ideal anchorman for our British General Election campaign and I am delighted that he has agreed to take on the role of running the campaign. He has considerable experience of campaigning and the team at Central Office will benefit greatly from his guidance. This British General Election will be a tough fight for the Conservatives in David McLetchiesays: “It is an enormous honour to be asked to manage our campaign in the British General Election. I will be in the backroom, giving managerial direction, particularly in the 11 key target seats on the ground. This tired and failed Labour Government has had its day and I look forward to the fight ahead.”"