CONSEVRATIVES are celebrating a massive rise in support across South Lanarkshire.
Tory candidates in the General Election saw their votes jump to newfound heights in each of the area’s four constituencies.
The party’s success meant the Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell, was re-elected as Clydesdale’s MP with a 9.6 per cent increase in his share of the vote.
Poppy Corbett came within a whisker of winning the Lanark and Hamilton East seat. She increased the Conservative vote share by an incredible 16.2 per cent to come within just 266 votes of beating her SNP rival.
More than a quarter of voters in East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow backed Conservative candidate Mark McGeever, delivering a 14 per cent rise in the party’s share of the vote.
Tory support also jumped in Rutherglen and Hamilton West, where Ann Le Blonde won around one-in-five votes to achieve a nearly 10 per cent increase.
Councillor Alex Allison, the leader of the Conservative Group of South Lanarkshire Council, hailed the party’s performance.
He said: “There was a remarkable result. We put forward excellent local candidates and it’s clear they won the public’s confidence.
“Many people who never before voted Conservative have seen that we will effectively represent them and stand up for the issues they care about.
“Like voters across Scotland, people in our urban and rural communities alike decided they wanted a Conservative MP to represent them in the House of Commons.
“There can be no doubt we offer a real alternative for voters in every part of South Lanarkshire.”
Combined, the three parties in favour of the union won almost two-thirds of votes across Scotland to deliver an unmistakable rejection of a second independence referendum.
Voters were also frustrated by the SNP government’s failure to focus on falling standards in schools, its underinvestment in the NHS and its poor management of the economy.
South Lanarkshire Council is run by a minority SNP administration. The area’s Conservatives are clear they will continue to ensure the authority prioritises local needs.
Cllr Allison added: “We all need a Scottish Government that’s focused on doing its job and running the country.
“Our vital public services and our economy have suffered from a decade of being merely afterthoughts for SNP ministers – and the people of Scotland have said ‘enough is enough’.
“This election saw a massive fall in votes for the SNP and it is absolutely clear the public has rejected their campaign for another divisive referendum.
“Here in South Lanarkshire our Conservative councillors are providing robust but constructive opposition the SNP administration.
“We are determined to ensure the council focuses on local needs and we will continue to be strong voices for our areas, working with others to deliver for everyone in South Lanarkshire.”