The Liberal Democrats were so keen to retake East Dunbarton-shire that it was the first stop on Tim Farron’s tour of Britain.
His party may be bumping along at 5 per cent in the polls in Scotland but they feel that they have an excellent chance of unseating the SNP’s John Nicolson.
After all, this was Lib Dem territory before the SNP tsunami in 2015. The constituency used to be held by Jo Swinson, a minister in the coalition government and a popular figure locally. But Mr Nicolson — media-savvy, sharp and engaging — brushed Ms Swinson aside to take the seat for the SNP last time around.
Now Ms Swinson wants it back, setting the scene for a memorable struggle between two of the most well-kent faces in Scottish politics.
The constituency includes the affluent suburbs of Milngavie and Bearsden and some really good state schools. The towns of Kirkintilloch and Bishopbriggs are also in this constituency –— and the Lib Dems want them back.
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It has been a bruising fight. Mr Nicolson has criticised Ms Swinson’s voting record in parliament, accusing her of supporting the privatisation of the Royal Mail, raising VAT to 20 per cent, helping to “slash” benefits and introduce the hated “bedroom tax”.
Ms Swinson has hit back by hammering the SNP record in the Scottish parliament and its desire to hold another independence referendum.
This is one of those constituencies it is impossible to call. Mr Nicolson hopes the SNP’s dominance will see him home again: Ms Swinson believes the opposite.