The Scottish Party suspended Philip Lardner as a candidate after he praised Iain Smith and called Edward Heath a rat. They have now lifted the suspension with this formal press statement:
“The Scottish Conservative and Unionist party suspended the candidature of Philip Lardner following an article which appeared in the Sunday Herald newspaper on 22nd June 2008.
“The Party Candidates board having investigated the matter fully has now removed the suspension from Mr Lardner and he is now re-instated and has the full support of both the Party and the Local Conservative and Unionist Party Association as our candidate for the Westminster constituency of North Ayrshire & Arran.
“Philip Lardner has stated his regrets for any offence caused by remarks attributed to him in the Sunday Herald’s article of 22nd June 2008.
The matter is now closed and Mr Lardner looks forward to resuming campaigning in North Ayrshire & Arran.”
Common sense appears to have prevailed on this occasion. Let us hope that this is the beginning of greater tolerance of some diversity of opinion amongst our candidates.
