Not a good day for the Conservatives - one former candidate endorses the Liberal Democrats as one candidate is suspended

Not a great day for the Scottish Conservatives today, firstly Chris Walker, the former Conservative candidate for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk comes out to back Liberal Democrats Michael Moore to win and then only hours later North Ayshire & Arran Conservative candidate Philip Lardner is suspended over his homophobic views.

Chris Walker has been very brave to come forward and publicly support another party's candidate and it is great to see his obviously sincere words about Michael Moore.

John Lamont heard the news from BBCs Richard Gordon apparently, just as Lamont was about to welcome SamCam.......ouch!

You can read about Chris Walkers endorsement of Michael Moore here.

Then onto the appalling attitude of primary school teacher and Conservative candidate Philip Lardner.

Thanks to Pink News the shameful content of the Conservative candidates website has not just been brushed aside and swept under the carpet.

"The promotion of homosexuality by public bodies (as per 'clause 28′/section 2a in Scotland,) was correctly outlawed by Mrs Thatcher's government. Toleration and understanding is one thing, but state-promotion of homosexuality is quite another."

This just shows that the deep vein that runs through right wing Conservatives is still there, alive and well but now covered up by a brushing of foundation to hide the blemishes.
Philip Lardener goes on;

"Christians (and most of the population) believe homosexuality to be somewhere between 'unfortunate' and simply 'wrong' and they should not be penalised for politely saying so – good manners count too, of course.


"The current 'law' is wrong and must be overturned in the interests of freedom as well as Christian values."

From the BBC News website;

Mr Lardner had been reinstated to the party in 2008 after a previous suspension over claims he made racist comments by portraying former leader of white-rule Rhodesia, Ian Smith, as a hero.

This line obviously begs the question why and how was this person allowed to go through and represent a Party (Yes, I would the same about a Lib Dem too) with these awful views?

Unfortunately for the good people of North Ayshire & Arran, Philip Lardner will still appear as the Conservative candidate on the ballot paper on May 6, despite the swift suspension of Lardner by the Conservative Party.

Recently, Tory MP Chris Grayling was recorded saying he agreed bed and breakfast owners should have the right to bar gay couples if they wish.

Meanwhile, Julian Lewis, the incumbent MP for New Forest East and shadow defence minister, told a constituent that he was against equalising the age of consent for gay men as he believes gay sex carries a high risk of AIDS - full story here.


If you want to read about the Conservatives record in the House of Commons then you can do so here.

They haven't changed, just trying to cover it up to get votes.  The support for the Conservatives has dropped from LGBT people, while support for the Liberal Democrats has soared.

John Lamont MSP admits he wants to be part time MSP

MSP Lamont now targets Westminster seat

Chris Walker stands down as Conservative candidate

This is the headline and sub-headline in today's Berwickshire News. The fact that Chris Walker is standing down is not the main headline shows how much Conservative John Lamont MSP wants this more than he does being an MSP in my opinion.

Also, I did predict this earlier this week on my blog.

"Speaking to The Berwickshire News Mr Lamont was clear that should he be selected, and be successful at the next general election, he would also continue to serve as an MSP until the next Scottish Parliament election"

So, not satisfied at being the MSP, he now wants to go for Westminster, fair play, but to admit that if, and I say if, (because Mike Moore MP is a fantastic constituency MP and a Liberal Democrat and already holds the job of MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk), John Lamont beats Mike (highly unlikely) he will only be a part time MP.

Go to Mike Moore MPs website, go on please, go and read how much Mike has fought recently for people as firm after firm in the Borders has shed more jobs. Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk needs a full time MP. Their MP is Mike Moore and he is full time, and wishes to remain so, standing up for the people of the Borders. The Conservatives attacked Mike Moore MP when he was campaigning to save 5 local Post Offices and to build the Selkirk by-pass. Yet Mike Moore continued to do his job for the people of BRS and the Borders.

The other MP in the Borders is Conservative David Mundell, who in February this year "Mr Salmond has two jobs when many people in Scotland don't have a single job at all. That is quite wrong."

I assume David Mundell will mention this at some point to his colleague John?

John Lamont MSP also says that he thinks (assuming he wins) a by-election for his MSP seat would be "an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer" however, his boss in Holyrood, Annabel Goldie thinks the exact opposite of Alex Salmond in Banff & Buchan.

Chris Walker, Tory PPC for Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk - pushed?

So, the Tories have dumped a candidate, not really big news but is it all as it seems?

There are a lot of unhappy Tory activists who are sounding off all across the Borders.

Chris Walker's email to Tory Members paints a picture of a busy hotelier wanting to spend more time with his business - good on him for that, especially in the current climate.

But is it more about canvassing targets not being reached and not enough doors being knocked on, or just the fact that the Liberal Democrats in the Borders ran a super European campaign? Or all three?

The Conservative European campaign in the Borders was lightweight, no addressed election freepost leaflets, hardly any supersigns in farmers fields and not that much door knocking!

So, let us see what John Lamont MSP does over the coming days, I understand they want to get a new candidate in place by early August, let us see if John Lamont MSP is about to turn his back on Holyrood?