SCOTTISH Secretary Michael Forsyth ran into a few problems when he visited St Andrews yesterday to rally Tory troops behind North-east Fife candidate Adam Bruce.
His schedule had to be hurriedly rearranged when a photocall at the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral was cancelled.
He had been due to be pictured with a broadsword carried by King Robert the Bruce at the cathedral, where parliament confirmed the Bruce in 1309 as King of the Scots.
The giant two-handed weapon has been passed through generations of the Bruce family and now belongs to the Earl of Elgin, Adam Bruce's father.
However, the insurers of the broadsword vetoed the publicity stunt at the last minute and a disappointed Mr Forsyth was rerouted to the Tory Party's headquarters in the town.
Mr Bruce, whose family are the closest living descendants of Robert the Bruce, said later: ''The insurers felt it could have been damaged in transit from the family estate at Broomhall to St Andrews.
''It was stolen in the 70s, although later recovered, but it was decided against bringing it today.''
Mr Bruce added that legend had it that the sword was the genuine article.
Mr Forsyth also ran into trouble during his walkabout in St Andrews town centre when he became embroiled in a heated discussion with shop assistant Irene Robinson.
She told him she would be voting Labour and wouldn't be swayed by his dialogue. She said later: ''He became very irritated and tried to bombard me with facts and figures. As soon as I mentioned sleaze and pointed out that the Tories were not a good role model, he made a quick exit from the shop. He looked pretty hacked off.''
Mr Forsyth carried on with the walkabout before tucking into a slice of cake in the shape of the Stone of Destiny back in the safe haven of the local Tory office.
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