THE Scottish Liberal Democrats yesterday prophesied a ''Canadian
effect'' that could wipe out the Conservatives at regional level and
reduce them to a rump in the British Euro-seats.
Launching the agenda for their spring conference in Pitlochry next
week they claimed they would overhaul the Scottish Conservatives in
numbers of regional seats won.
Scottish president Sir Russell Johnston, said: ''There is no doubt
that the Tories are profoundly unpopular and a lot of voters will see
these elections as a good opportunity to give them a sound kick in an
appropriate place.''
On European results he predicted in Scotland it was possible they
could produce ''the biggest surprise in the whole of Britain'' with
candidate Hamish Morrison, unseating the SNP's Madame Ecosse, Mrs
Winifred Ewing, from her Highlands and Islands seat.
Opinion polls and personal soundings indicated the Liberal Democrats
were likely to win the Eastleigh parliamentary by-election and he was
sure they could pick up at least two South-west of England Euro-seats in
Cornwall and at Devon and Somerset.
He added: ''We are being cautious but we are definitely going to win
two and we may get a Canadian effect.''
In last year's Canadian General Election then Conservative Prime
Minister Kim Campbell saw her party tumble from 156 seats to two, to
give the Liberals power.
In the most recent System Three poll for The Herald the Scottish
Conservative plummeted to a 20-year low at 13%, in fourth place overall
and 34 points behind Labour. They hold none of the eight Scottish
Euro-seats.
Agreeing with Sir Russell's assessment, Scottish convener Sandra
Grieve said:
''I think the Scottish Conservatives are looking at wipe out regarding
the regional elections.''
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