Scottish Conservatives claim voter intimidation

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives has reported hearing of political intimidation outside a polling station in the only seat in Scotland the party won in 2010.

In a tweet, Ruth Davidson, Scottish Tory leader, said there were "disturbing reports of people being turned away from an Annan polling station by burly blokes if they say they don't support a certain party".

However, in a reply to Ms Davidson, the local council, Dumfries and Galloway, tweeted a photograph of an apparently peaceful scene outside the Annan polling station.

"No burly blokes outside Annan. Officers and police visiting frequently. No complaints re canvassers," said the council, in which the Tories are currently the largest party.

Ms Davidson did not say which party's supporters she believed were involved but pro-union politicians have alleged intimidation by some supporters of the Scottish National party during and since last year's independence referendum.

A Conservative spokesman said two members of the public had complained to the party about the situation at a polling station in Annan.

"We have passed on their complaint to the electoral registration officer at the council and have spoken to Police Scotland," the spokesman said. He declined to provide any further details of the allegations.

Dumfries and Galloway council said election staff and police had been visiting polling stations across the area including Annan throughout the day "to make sure that voters can vote and that campaigners are acting responsibly".

"Currently, no official complaints have been received," the council said.

The SNP suspended two members this week after nationalist protesters disrupted a campaign street appearance by Jim Murphy, Scottish Labour leader, and comedian Eddie Izzard in Glasgow during which the two were jostled and shouted down.

Two members who were at the scene, Piers Doughty-Brown and James Scott, were placed under administrative suspension from the SNP pending an investigation, the party said.

Nationalist politicians say there have been incidents of intimidation and online abuse by supporters of both sides in the referendum, and that their political opponents have exaggerated such cases in order to tarnish the SNP's reputation.

Ms Davidson's report of intimidation in Annan came amid otherwise apparently peaceful voting across Scotland, where polls in recent weeks have suggested the SNP could win a landslide victory.

In Glasgow East, an office for SNP candidate Natalie McGarry had its locks glued overnight for the second time during the campaign, according to activists and local reports.

The local Evening Times said Ms McGarry had previously called the vandalism "an attempt to silence us". 

Asked about Ms Davidson's report of polling station intimidation, the SNP said it was "entirely satisfied" that the referendum process had been a "gold standard in terms of the robustness of the democratic process, popular engagement, and a result which accurately reflected the votes of the people".

"We are equally satisfied about all the arrangements for the general election," the SNP said.

Annan is in the Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale constituency, which was in 2010 the only Westminster seat in Scotland won by the Conservatives. An April poll for Tory peer Lord Ashcroft put the SNP two points ahead, "well within the margin of error and therefore too close to call".

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