A GROUP of indoor bowlers have said they are responsible for unseating Jo Swinson in the General Election as they believe she's behind a new leisure complex that will not have a bowling room.
The LibDem leader lost her East Dunbartonshire seat at the election earlier this month. She was unseated by the SNP’s Amy Callaghan by 149 votes.
READ MORE: Amy Callaghan: The new MP on winning Jo Swinson's seat
Some members of Allander Indoor Bowling Club in Bearsden, near Glasgow, claim Swinson’s loss was because of her party’s bias against 300 bowlers.
They were angry that the LibDem and Tory-led East Dunbartonshire Council didn’t put a bowling hall in the plans for the new £33 million Allander Leisure Centre.
Yesterday, the secretary of the club Sandy Torrie revealed members had been urged to vote tactically to oust Swinson.
He said: “The LibDems had their party line and chose to vote against having a bowling hall in the new sports centre.
“My wife went to the meeting when it was voted on and it was a 13-7 vote for every issue raised. It wasn’t just about the bowling but other aspects, too. Every 13-7 vote followed the party whip.”
Councillors saw no need for a bowling hall in the new centre, claiming membership had slumped from 700 in 2005.
But the club disputed the figure and despite having just over 300 members, more than 2500 supporters backed a petition for a bowling hall.
The bowlers said the council were “stringing them along” with a promise of “like-for-like” facilities.
Sandy said: “We felt undone by the LibDems and the Conservatives on our council.
“We were looking for a change of direction.
“We didn’t know there was going to be a general election so soon but said, ‘Come election time, don’t vote for the LibDems’."
"That was the message that went out through the bowling fraternity – and I certainly didn’t vote for the LibDems
“I’ve got nothing against Jo as a person. I’ve had some thoughts about the party but not her.
“She was personally involved in communication.
“She more or less came up with the position, ‘I’m very sorry, I’ve done all I can and the decision has been taken.’ She did communicate with us and did not turn her back on us in that respect.”
The issue reached the Scottish Parliament in October when SNP MSP Gil Paterson called on Holyrood to condemn East Dunbartonshire Council over the move.
He said: “East Dunbartonshire Council has an obligation to provide facilities and services to enhance the health and well-being of its older citizens. This retrograde step should be reversed.”
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