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Conservative Conference: David Cameron targets Tory gains in Scotland

David Cameron said the defection of MP Mark Reckless was 'frustrating'
David Cameron said the defection of MP Mark Reckless was 'frustrating'

Prime Minister David Cameron has spoken of the “huge opportunity” the independence referendum has given the Tories to win back seats in Scotland at Westminster.

He listed the Highlands and Aberdeenshire among the areas where the Conservatives could gain ground in the general election in May.

Mr Cameron addressed hundreds of activists at a Scottish fringe meeting at his party’s conference in Birmingham last night.

He said he experienced “the definition of relief” on September 18 when he went to bed as prime minister of the UK and woke up in the same post.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson was praised as a “real star” of the referendum at the event.

Turning his sights on the election, Mr Cameron said his party should be using the momentum from the No vote to increase Tory representation at Westminster, which currently stands at one MP.

He said: “I think we have a huge political opportunity here. We’ve now got a leader with huge stature and following in Scotland.

“We’ve now got a database not just of Conservative supporters but friends of the Union who look to us to defend our United Kingdom.

“We’ve got people who have been hardened in the battle on the streets in the campaign and we’ve got some targets in our sights.

“I think there are seats, whether in the lowlands of Scotland, whether in the Highlands, whether in Argyll, in Fife, whether in Aberdeenshire, whether in Perthshire.

“We’ve got the people, we’ve got the message and we’ve got the leader – now I think we can use the next 200 days to deliver more Conservative seats in the Westminster parliament from Scotland.”

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, currently held by Liberal Democrat Sir Robert Smith, is understood to be a key target for the party.

Mr Cameron also reiterated his promise to deliver more powers to Scotland, and said the referendum result proved he was correct to insist that extra devolution was kept off the ballot.

“Let’s just say now loudly and proudly – it was the right call,” he said.