TORY big hitter William Hague sampled some Peebles treats - then insisted local voters must stick by his party or risk a “chaotic” country.

The former Conservative leader and Foreign Secretary warned that Scotland faced being massively divided if a minority Labour party struck a deal with the Scottish National Party to run a Westminster government.

He claimed that his party were now the main rivals to the SNP in Scotland and that Labour was in “deep trouble”.

Mr Hague travelled to the Borders to boost David Mundell’s bid to retain the Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale seat on May 7.

Before coming to Peebles he visited Selkirk and Melrose to aid in his party’s attempt to wrest the neighbouring seat of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk from the Liberal Democrats’ grasp.

Speaking exclusively to the Peeblesshire News, Mr Hague said: “I am delighted to be here because we are grateful to David Mundell for all his work locally, nationally and UK wide. He’s a very dedicated MP. I hope very much he’s going to be successful again and it’s a pleasure to support him.” Mr Hague had visited Peebles only once previously - many years ago - and admitted he had travelled to the Borders because of the growing threat posed by the SNP. “It’s a hard-fought election, of course, and people’s votes are very valuable and this constituency has been hard-fought for a very long time,” he said.

“Of course, there is a new situation in Scotland and there are seats where the Scottish Nationalists are stronger than they have been in the past.

“A constituency such as this one has become a Conservative or Scottish Nationalist choice for local people and they need to know that before polling day.Of course, I hope it’s not close and David wins by a very large majority but we are taking nothing for granted and it’s important that people understand that this is one of the constituencies where it’s possible to create a majority government or not.

“We can have a chaotic situation at Westminster after May 7 with a mixture of Labour, SNP, Liberal and I don’t know what else or we can have a Conservative majority continuing the economic recovery of the whole of the UK from which Scotland has benefited.

“There are 178,000 more people at work in Scotland than there were five years ago - no Labour minister could have come around at the last election and said that.

“This is a UK-wide election and what happens in Scotland economically depends a lot on how well or badly we do across the UK economically. We’re electing the next chancellor of the exchequer and the next prime minister and that matters if we are to continue the economic turnaround.

“Increasingly in Scotland the Conservatives are the clear opposition to the Scottish Nationalists. The Labour party is clearly in a great deal of trouble, the Liberals are vanishing in many places in Scotland and we need a strong Conservative party so that there is a unionist alternative and at a local level where you’ve got someone who’s been a highly successful MP that’s something to hang on to and support.

“We are concerned that the SNP party would use their stronger position to pull Scotland and England apart. This means we must make every effort to defeat them and support the Conservative candidates in the Borders constituencies.” He added that his party would be standing by the recommendations of the Smith Commission, saying: “We can be relied upon to deliver our commitments to Scotland and, to be fair, England as well.” Mr Hague re-asserted his view that English MPs should decide on issues that only affect their country. “If a matter only affects England it should require the agreement of English MPs but no MPs should be excluded - I think that’s fair,” he said.

Mr Hague’s visit to Scotland was part of a hectic schedule - he had a trip to Kent planned for the following day.

“I’m not standing myself, so I am free to move around supporting my colleagues,” he said. “In an election not having to worry about your own patch is a sense of liberation but I’m working as hard as ever so it’s not until polling day that I will hang up my boots.” Mr Hague, 54, is quitting politics after a long and distinguished career. He was the Conservative leader for four years from 1997. Later he was appointed Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State before becoming Leader of the House of Commons after announcing that he was to retire.

“If I was going to miss it all, I wouldn’t be giving it up,” he said. “I’m looking forward to new things. I’m going to write, I’m going to play the piano and have more freedom than I’ve ever had in my adult life.

“But I’ll still support the Conservative party at crucial moments and when there’s an election campaign I’ll still be there. I will still support my colleagues and I am very proud to be supporting David here today.” For his part, Mr Mundell is confident of prolonging his tenure. “We very much hope to retain my seat as well as gain the other Borders seat - the polls suggest we are in a strong position for that one as well,” he said.

Mr Mundell was delighted that one of his party’s senior members had travelled to Scotland to aid his cause.

“It was great to have William here as one of the most recognisable figures in British politics,” he said. “It was fascinating going down Peebles High Street and people doing a double-take and saying 'is that really him’?” Mr Hague grasped the opportunity to try out some of the specialities offered in a town renowned for its independent shops.

“I am now the proud owner of a steak pie from Forsyth’s and the proud consumer of an ice cream from Caldwell’s,” he said.