Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie was on the European election campaign trail in the north-east yesterday as he helped deliver leaflet to households in Newtonhill and Aberdeen.
Last night Mr Rennie said he had noticed a growing confidence towards his party in the area following its success in the council elections in England and Wales yesterday.
He said: “We are managing to gain significant numbers, we are gaining control of councils – so we are back in charge; but we also have toe-holds in parts of the country and are gaining areas.
“There is a great opportunity for expansion – there’s a good spread of support across the country.
“It has given the party a huge confidence boost.
“People are looking at us again, there were people I spoke to today who have voted SNP all their life who were saying they don’t want this independence stuff anymore and were going to vote Lib Dem.
“Others were fed up of the Conservatives – so people are coming to us from all different directions.
“We didn’t come across any Labour supporters today, but I bet there are many who are just astonished at their party’s take on Brexit.
“A lot of people are coming to the realisation that the only way to stop Brexit is to vote Lib Dem – it’s the only way.
“We want a People’s Vote – or a confirmatory referendum is how we describe it.
“If Brexiteers can’t decide amongst themselves what to do, how is everyone else supposed to know.
“We think it is only reasonable to put it back to the people.”
Aberdeen councillor Martin Greig welcomed Mr Rennie to Aberdeen as he accompanied him on the campaign trail around Queen’s Cross.
He said: “We have a very clear view against independence and are for keeping the union.
“We are campaigning for a second vote because the referendum was advisory and should not be binding.”