Glasgow East by-election: Goldie hits the gym to boost Tory campaign

Published on Wednesday 16 July 2008 13:56

SCOTTISH Tory leader Annabel Goldie today donned her training gear for an early morning workout on the Glasgow east by-election campaign trail.

She was joined by party health spokeswoman Mary Scanlon and Tory candidate Davena Rankin for a 45-minute "stretch and tone" session at a local leisure centre.

"We think it's important that we all recognise what we can do ourselves in very simple ways to try and help our health," Miss Goldie said.

The Tory leader said she also likes cycling while Mrs Scanlon goes hillwalking. Tory UK leader David Cameron recently hit the headlines when he called for less sensitivity about identifying factors such as exercise and diet in the growing obesity problem.

Miss Goldie said: "I'm the first to hold my hands up and say I'm overweight. There's only one person to blame for that – me".

But she added: "I think already in Scotland people are looking very carefully at the kind of lives they lead. They are now trying to make positive decisions to have healthier lives".

Mrs Scanlon said there was a need to make labels on food less confusing and make it easier for people to buy more nutritional foods.

Regarding Davena Rankin's election campaign, Miss Goldie said: "An overwhelming majority of people she meets don't want independence but associate Labour with failure.

"They see the Conservatives as a vibrant, dynamic, political force in Scotland," she claimed.

"The Conservatives are closing the gap and the impression we're getting on the doorsteps is that people also understand what we are doing in Scotland.

"This includes leading the debate at Holyrood on securing more police officers on the streets, a national drugs strategy and business rate cuts.

Miss Rankin had encountered many Labour voters who do not intend to switch next week but said: "We've come across equal numbers of lifelong Labour supporters who are saying they're going to vote Tory for the first time on the 24th.

"People are becoming disillusioned with Labour and they're saying 'let's give the Tories a chance'."

The by-election to be held next Thursday, came about after Labour's David Marshall stood down due to ill-health.

Labour is defending a 13,500 majority in the seat over the SNP.