The leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson joined a north-east by-election candidate on the campaign trail today.
Ms Davidson visited the local branch of her party in Inverurie town centre to shake hands and support candidate Colin Clark.
Mr Clark is standing against Neil Baillie, SNP, Alison Auld, Liberal Democrat, and Sarah Flavell, Labour.
A vacancy in the Inverurie ward opened up when former council co-leader Martin Kitts-Hayes was forced to resign in the wake of this summer’s Lego-gate scandal.
Ms Davidson told the press and journal: “It’s in a sense, certainly in Inverurie, a battle between Conservative and SNP. Although it’s a one, two, three, four vote I think it’s between those two.
“We’re looking to get second and third preference votes from people who clearly don’t support the SNP and want to stand against a second referendum and stand up for their country.
“People also recognise that for the first time ever in the history in Scotland they want to tax people and take that money away to send to Glasgow or Edinburgh or somewhere else.”
Mr Clark said the government’s proposals to raise council tax to spend on education in the country’s most deprived areas would hit Aberdeenshire taxpayers.
However former First Minister Alex Salmond, campaigning in Inverurie on behalf of nationalist candidate Neil Baillie, said the key issue is the future of Aberdeenshire Council’s headquarters.
The SNP and Labour led council administration is proposing to move out of their Woodhill House base in Aberdeen to a purpose build central office in the town.
However opposition groups have described it as a “vanity project”.
Mr Salmond added: “It will come down to who is in control of the council which decides whether the HQ will be here. It’s a wonderful opportunity.
“You think even the Conservative Party would see the value in it. It will come down to the meeting on November 17 and we want Neil Baillie there to vote.”
Last night Labour candidate Sarah Flavell said: “This by-election should be about local issues for Inverurie.
“My work has involved helping the people of Inverurie deal with real, everyday issues. I would like to have the opportunity to make an effective difference for them on the council.”
“I will continue to fight for better funding for local services, and particularly for affordable rental housing.”
