ConservativeHome's General Election Review (executive summary here/ contents page here), concluded with ten recommendations. One of them was this recommendation for a separate Scottish party.
At the depths of Labour's unpopularity, with the Tories gaining more than ninety seats across England and five in Wales, the Tories could not add to their miserable representation in Scotland. David Mundell held his constituency but the Scottish Conservatives fell further behind in some of its eleven key target seats despite spending £400,000 on the campaign. The Tory share of the vote was just 16.7%.
Conservative strategists believe that Scotland - and the other two groups most resistant to Tory charms, those dependent on the state for income and ethnic minorities - can begin to be won over by a Conservative government that does not live up to the nightmarish caricature that many voters have of the 'Thatcherite' Tories.
I believe a more radical option is required and one that fits the Coalition model now being developed with the Liberal Democrats. That idea is a separate Scottish party, able to develop distinctive policies for Scotland.
The idea was first mooted in April 2007 and these were the two arguments for it then:
- "It gives the Scottish party - with a new name and a truly Scottish leadership team - the opportunity to break free from the long-held belief that it is a fully-owned subsidiary of the London party. With its own distinct identity the Scottish Unionist Party (the name of the party until 1965 and a possible name for the 'new party') could be a leading advocate of The Union and would be more likely to be seen to be motivated by an unambiguous commitment to Scotland's interests rather than those of England. The election of its leader - which should follow independence - would give the party the serious debate it desperately needs about its long-term identity. Should it be defined by its Unionism, for example, or by a commitment to provide an alternative to the high tax, anti-business parties that dominate the Scottish landscape.
- The move will also be helpful for Project Cameron. The impact David Cameron has had on Conservative fortunes in England could count for more. If the Scottish party continues to struggle he will no longer be tarnished by that underperformance. If, however, there is a revival of the 'Scottish Unionists' he can claim credit for taking the bold decision to return the party to a degree of independence that it enjoyed until that 1960s name change."
There would still be a formal relationship between the Scottish identity and the Conservative Party - much like the CDU and CSU have a relationship in Germany - but it would be a Scottish party entirely focused on Scottish interests. Ideally it should have a new name. At the time we suggested the Scottish Freedom Party or Scottish Reform Party.
Tim Montgomerie
