Dundee is by no means a safe bet for the Yes campaign in the independence referendum, Labour’s deputy Scottish leader has claimed.
Anas Sarwar’s comments came after The Courier reported that bookies in Dundee have yet to receive a single wager on a No campaign win on September 18, with city punters unanimously backing a vote for independence.
Battle buses from both sides rolled into Dundee on Friday, with Scottish Labour pitching up in the city centre while Dundee Women for Independence took their double-decker on an evening tour including music and speeches.
Mr Sarwar said he would not take Dundee for granted and the No campaign would fight in every part of the country.
He said: “I accept we have a challenge in Dundee but I have always campaigned on the premise that you could lose by one vote and that makes sure you are not complacent and you put everything you can into it.”
First Minister Alex Salmond told the Courier in June that Dundee was heading towards becoming Scotland’s “Yes City”.
Mr Sarwar said that was at odds with the mood of many folk he spoke to in Dundee.
He said: “Having heard all this ‘Dundee’s a Yes city’, I’ve been struck by the level of support we have received today in Dundee city centre.
“Alex Salmond is good at one thing in particular and that is making bold statements and then the electoral maths say something different.
“He said Glasgow was going to be the Freedom City, he said Dundee was going to be the Yes city. Let’s let the voters decide what’s in the best interests of Scotland.”
Women for Independence organiser Heather McLean said: “The idea is to have some fun, inspire our supporters and give undecided women the chance to get their questions answered by some really knowledgeable women politicians.”