Scottish Unionist Parties Fragment

'She's the Tory it's ok to like' I was told today and I couldn't disagree.  Annabel Goldie, after insisting on Friday she would continue as leader of the Scottish Conservatives, became the third casualty of last Thursday's election today when she announced she was standing down in the autumn.

The three unionist parties have crumbled leaving Alex Salmond's SNP to cope with unknown and inexperienced new party leaders.

Ms Goldie was well liked by the public, but the same public wouldn't consider a return to a 1950s Scotland, when the Tories ran Scotland. Some say she should have held on to see how the ground lay, but after consultation with her party today, she U-turned.  Was she shoved or was she pushed?  We'll never know.

Alex Salmond paid tribute to Ms Goldie:

First Minister Alex Salmond paid tribute to Annabel Goldie, saying he held her in the "very highest personal regard".

He added: "Annabel acquitted herself very well in the recent election, and although her party lost ground I believe they would have lost more had she not been leader.

"I will miss Annabel's distinctive style at First Minister's Questions in particular. I am sure that Annabel still has a significant contribution to make as a distinguished parliamentarian, and she carries my very best wishes for the future."

Murdo Fraser, the current deputy leader, has emerged as the early favourite to succeed her but I don't think Mr Fraser has the skills required to tackle Alex Salmond. My criticism is based upon hearing him talk many times on local affairs - he's one of my list MSPs - when he's been average but hasn't set the heather on fire.  However, there's a few months until autumn and by then the A list Tories at Westminster will have had time to confer.

Therein lies the problem of all Scottish unionist parties; the electorate know their paymasters are London based and therefore allegiances are to the south rather than Scotland.  Also the Scots are becoming aware the unionist parties' Westminster counterparts scorn the Scottish Parliament and the SNP capitalised on this last week. Nobody likes to be labelled second-rate.

London Labour aren't happy with their Scottish branch. Their solution lies here.  Sorry for not forewarning you and you've spilt your morning coffee.

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Tory Troubles

It the Scottish Tories thought their troubles were over once they recovered from the shock announcement that Jimmy Buchan was stepping down as their candidate for the Scottish Parliament election, they were sadly mistaken.  Their election campaign has taken a few more knocks in the past few days but I doubt if the majority of the Scottish electorate will be shaken or even gently stirred by the latest events. 

Bill Aitken (pictured above) was ousted from his position as Convenor of the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee because of ill-advised comments he gave, by telephone, to a journalist.  Mr Aitken is stepping down as an MSP in May.  An undignified end to a 12 year career but an unacceptable incident which could not go unpunished.

More Tory troubles. The above photograph shows David Cameron expounding the wonders of Tory policies to Davena Rankin (Tory candidate) and Annabel Goldie during the Glasgow East by-election campaign.

Ms Rankin, who has stood for the Tories in council, Holyrood and Westminster elections, is said to have decided to leave the party in protest at child benefit cuts.  Where's she off to?  Join Labour of course.  A loss to the Tories but Iain Gray is thrilled by her defection.

“I am delighted to welcome Davena Rankin to the Labour party. Davena joined Labour because she knows we are the party that stands up for ordinary working people now facing the onslaught of Tory cuts.

“People in Scotland are furious at David Cameron’s government. Even people in the past who backed them are appalled at their slash and burn approach to child benefits, tax credits for working parents and local services.

“Every time David Cameron says ‘We’re in this together’ the more people stare in disbelief.”

How anyone can change from Tory to Labour astonishes me although I suspect there is more than a little self interest in her change of heart.

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Tinkering Tories

The Sanderson review of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party was published last week.  Another investigation into why the Scottish Tories didn't win more seats at the last general election and only managed to cling onto the one they already have.

The bluntness of the review suggests that the Tory peer and his colleagues understand the depth of the hole the party is in and the major changes needed to haul the organisation into the 21st century.  It also notes that 'many people outside the party believe that Scotland needs a strong centre-right political force'.  I too agree with that statement because it would create a healthier balance in the Scottish political scene.  The SNP, Labour and Libdems are all fighting for the centre-left ground and any serious probing of government is non-existent.

While many people may concede that a centre-right party is needed, the trouble for the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party is that people don't think it should be the Tory party.

The review undermines the current leader, Annabel Goldie (pictured), by calling for a leadership contest after next May's Holyrood elections when they will decide who should be handed control over the range of power bases that current exists.  It rejects proposals to change the party's name or logo, concluding the real problem was the 'failure to convey clearly and consistently what it believes in and stands for'.  I don't think that's the problem at all.  The problem for the Tories is that people don't like what they stand for and believe in.

No matter how much they try to break through into the modern Scottish psyche, the damage was done years ago.  For me, the final nail in the coffin for the Tories in Scotland was watching Michael Forsyth, the then Scottish secretary, solemnly walking up the Royal Mile behind a piece of stone, which was resting on a velvet cushion and borne by a glass topped limousine.  To top the ludicrous event, Forsyth later, in Edinburgh Castle, gave a speech in which he implied that if all Scots weren't grateful for his goodwill gesture of returning the Stone of Destiny, then hell mend them.

Now the Tory party want a 'distinctly Scottish leader' who must have the power to appoint the Scottish party chairman, a job currently in the gift of UK party leader David Cameron.  But, despite arguing that the party needs to put Holyrood front and centre of its daily business, the review says the leader need not be an MSP.  How they intend to have a leader who may be unable to represent the party within the Chamber is beyond me.

Also recommended in the review is a radical overhaul of its candidate selection, financing, membership recruitment, policy formation and relations with the UK party.

This is all too little too late I feel but my suggestion would be: disband the present Tories, build another centre-right party which has no affiliation to any UK party and drop their determination to be a unionist party.  Many tories vote SNP in this part of the world, possibly because we have an excellent MSP but also because they do believe in Scotland taking charge of her own affairs.  Any tories who feel they cannot support an independence party can move to Labour or the LibDems.

The Tory brand is toxic in Scotland and no amount of tinkering will make them less so.  Better to cut and run then rebuild with policies more akin to Scotland's culture.  There have been other attempts by former Tories disillusioned by the party to create a new home, but with little success.  The Scottish Democratic Alliance does not intend to select candidates for any election until Scotland is independent.  The Tories could do worse than look at their vision for Scotland.

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Is This the End of the Scottish Tories?

Isn't that a happy photograph? It was taken at last year's Scottish Conservatives conference. You'd think everything in the garden is rosy wouldn't you. But it isn't and it never will be again. The Tories made no gains in Scotland at the general election and even though Ms Goldie insists their share of the vote increased, it's of little interest to her boss.

In fact, he's so disinterested he hasn't spoken to her since the poor result. Some report the Scottish Tories have been 'cut adrift' by their London party as they've been shut out of all decision making roles and they are no longer invited to top-level strategy and policy meetings. Some of us will resist saying 'we told you so'.

All the London party is concerned with is power and when there's no power base there's nothing left to interest them.

Surely this is the Scottish Tories' chance to completely break away from their London bosses and branch out alone. Despite the many rumours that the Tories are dead in Scotland there are many who still vote for them. The Scottish Conservatives lost a considerable percentage o their voters to the SNP some years ago. Why? Because they insisted on taking their orders from London and therefore were unable to suggest policies which would benefit Scotland. There are also Tories who believe in independence for Scotland and, because their own party won't entertain the thought of it, they vote SNP.

If they reinvented themselves, decided upon policies which are relevant to Scotland and perhaps rethought their opposition towards independence or at least total fiscal autonomy -instead of supporting the Calman report which has little in the way of developing Scotland's future - then they could be a serious party once again.

Will they be courageous enough? Will they rid themselves of the old fogies who are stuck in an 80s time warp hoping that another Thatcher will appear on the scene? That will be their only saving grace, otherwise they will slip into oblivion. Their supporters will only tolerate a certain amount of neglect and stupidity for a certain amount of time. Some I know are beginning to have serious doubts about David Cameron already and that's not good news.

A decision must be made very soon or the next election will see much of their vote split between the SNP and the libdems. Maybe that needs to happen before they grasp that the writing on the wall is addressing them.

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Annabel's Anger

Rather an unflattering photograph of Annabel Goldie, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives isn't it? She looks confused, even angry - certainly not happy.

She has no reason to be happy. Today one of her loyal colleagues announced he'd given enough of his time to being a parliamentarian and was standing down next year. To add to Annabel's woes it's reported some of her party's senior figures have concocted a plan which would see MSPs replaced after serving two terms at Holyrood. As the analysis of the party's dismal showing in Scotland at the general election continued, it was confirmed that a major review could include a 'two strikes and you're out' rule, which would see MSPs standing down after eight years. The Scottish Parliament has fixed-terms of four years.

This is the method the Scottish tories think will introduce 'new blood' to the party because some see Holyrood as 'moribund and ineffective and its members too comfortable'.

Of the 17 Tory MSPs elected at the last election, only three were elected to specific constituencies, the rest owed their election to the regional list top-up system.

I have a suggestion for all Holyrood parties. What about applying the two-term rule, or even a one-term rule, to all list MSPs? Since the Parliament was re-established in 1999, I have not had one piece of correspondence from my list MSPs. Trying to find who they are isn't easy either. Fortunately I know Perthshire comes under Mid Scotland and Fife in the regional lists but I doubt if many people know that or are even interested. In fact I would think it's a small minority of people who are aware so many MSPs have never been elected. They are chosen by their politican party and go through the party process of selection. Some don't even bother to stand at elections but are confident that their party will place them top of their list.

List MSPs are not accountable to me. They can't be because I never never voted for any of them.

Not so long ago there was a suggestion in Parliament that list MSPs receive less salary than elected MSP. Uproar ensued. List MSPs insisted they did as much, if not more, work than their elected equivalents. The matter was dropped.

So a wee tip for Annabel; bring forward a proposal that all list MSPs serve only one or two terms. Then the public will be able to observe the 'new blood' and if they like what they see, we the people, can suggest they stand at a future election.

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'Scotland Will Do As It's Told' Says Scottish Tory Leader

Annabel Goldie, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, told her audience at the Royal College of Surgeons last night that a tory victory at the general election would give her party a mandate to govern in Scotland regardless of how many seats it won here.

She emphasised that winning seats here was not a prerequisite for a mandate to govern, as the Westminster election was British, not Scottish.

"Let me nail this nonsense now. This is a British general election, to elect a British government and a British prime minister. People in Scotland want devolution, but they also want to be part of Britain, and that means they want to be part of the Westminster democratic process.

"Whatever happens at this British general election, whoever wins, unionism will beat nationalism in Scotland."

She said it was "predictable" that the SNP, with its "obsession for independence", would claim the Tories had no mandate in Scotland. But, significantly, she also appealed to Labour not to return to its "nationalism with a small n" of the 1980s and 1990s, which, she argued, damaged the United Kingdom.

"I ask Labour what is more important to them – the short-term future of the Labour Party or the long-term future of the United Kingdom?"

Strong stuff Ms Goldie and I think we understand. One or two tory MPs, maybe a couple more, and Scotland has to do David Cameron's bidding should the conservatives win the Westminster election. I don't think so.

Angus Robertson, the SNP's Westminster leader, said, "For Annabel Goldie to say that the way Scotland votes in a general election doesn't matter shows the tories up in their old anti-Scottish colours. It is a return to their North British roots - which was out of time decades ago - and will be enormously damaging to them in the election campaign."

Don't say you haven't been warned Ms Goldie.

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Click to enlarge

Provided by Conan

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David Mundell, Scottish Tory MP, Not Good Enough for Tory Cabinet

Senior tories don't think David Mundell, MP for Dumfriesshire since 2005, is enough of a heavy weight to warrant the job as Scottish Secretary should the tories win the next general election.

Their main fear is that Mr Mundell would be no match for Alex Salmond. After seeing his performance on the BBC1 programme The Big Debate last week, I don't think he's even a match for Jim Murphy so I completely understand the tories' concerns.

One tory source said, "Mundell is not Cabinet-level material, but getting rid of him presents the problem of a viable alternative." David Mundell has been the only tory MP in Scotland since 2005 and therefore will naturally expect the promotion and he must be choking on his cornflakes to read today's Sunday Herald.

Who would replace him as Scottish Secretary? It's thought the tories may gain around 6 Scottish seats at the next election but no tory heavyweights are candidates so it seems there is little choice from that group.

Another idea being discussed internally is to give a senior MSP a peerage and then the keys of the Scotland Office. David McLetchie? I think he enjoys his legal job too much to leave it for any length of time.

It must be embarrassing for Annabel Goldie and David Mundell to discover they had been left off the guest list of a private dinner, which took place at the Milngavie home of Sir Jack Harvie, the tories' key Scottish fundraiser. David Cameron attended alongside Lord Strathclyde, the tory leader in the Lords and around a dozen tory sympathisers in the business world.

Not really the way to cultivate relations with your Scottish colleagues Sir Jack, is it? Could it be that Scotland has already been written off David Cameron's list of 'things to do' and thus the current Scottish tory leadership don't matter?

Source: Sunday Herald

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The Statement and the Questions

I arranged my afternoon in order to watch Kenny MacAskill's statement on the Megrahi decision and the subsequent MSP's questions.

His statement was a repeat of his statement last Thursday but he was much more relaxed.

The questions varied in quality with Ian Gray later insisting, on Sky News, that none of his questions was answered. Perhaps he wasn't listening because in my opinion they were answered fully.

Annabel Goldie's idea that Mr Megrahi could have been transferred to his temporary home in Newton Mearns, a hospice or a hospital was quite ridiculous. Even to the most disinterested person the policing of any of these situations would be a nightmare. I'm sure Ms Goldie doesn't live in Newton Mearns or has ever been in a hospital when a criminal is also a patient. The freedom of patients is seriously curtailed and inconvenience is caused to staff, visitors and patients. With a man of Mr Megrahi's criminal status it would be quite impossible to ensure security and allow normal business to proceed. The same would apply to a hospice situation.

The least said about Tavish Scott and Nicol Stephen's contributions the better. Very disappointing performances from both whose desperate attempts to score political points drifted into the ether. The subject matter is far too important for this type of behaviour.

The MSP who deserves a mention is Malcolm Chisholm, a man not unused to sticking his head above the party line and voicing his own opinion - dignified, brief and to the point. I see others agree with me.

As a result of this afternoon it would seem the unionist parties intend to push for a full debate in the Parliament next Wednesday and a vote thereafter. Interesting times indeed.

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Scottish Conservatives and Leadership

The other day I read a blog post from Jeff in which he mentioned it's about time Annabel Goldie stepped aside and gave Derek Brownlie or Murdo Fraser a crack at the leadership.

Having said yesterday I thought Tommy Sheridan was past his sell-by date, I have to agree with Jeff because Annabel is now beginning to drop into her use-by date. Any time she speaks it's never about Scotland without mentioning the union and how strongly the tories support it. Actually she's quite wrong because, as I've said before, many of my tory voting friends are ambivalent about the union.

This week Annabelle wrote, on theblueblog, a post entitled 'Securing Scotland's place in the Union'. Nothing new in it, but I did laugh at this sentence - 'Given my strong and unwavering commitment to the Union, let me be clear that the creation of the (Calman) Commission was not a decision I entered into lightly. If I remember correctly Annabel was at the table before Wendy Alexander managed in the door.

As for Jeff suggesting Murdo Fraser should be given a go at the tory leadership I don't consider him leadership material. He's a very pleasant person but he lacks a sense of authority. Now in Derek Brownlie I can see leadership material and he could be the one to move the tories on from their present standstill.

The photo of Annabel above was taken from the blue blog. Must be at least 20 years old. Any further opinions?

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FMQs 28 May 2009

A criminal theme today from the opposition and a return to last week's subject by Ian Gray and Annabel Goldie.

When the BBC programme commenced Alex Salmond was announcing there is to be a one-off £2,000 payment given to apprentices who discontinue employment and to ensure they move into gainful training.  I would have liked to have heard more about this new policy but that was not to be.

Ian Gray tried hard to pin the First Minister down to the matter of the latest abscondee from Castle Huntly but the FM was having none of it. In stauch defence of Kenny MacAskill the Justice Secretary, Alex Salmond explained the information flow had been inappropriate and that had been explained yesterday. He added with the present government absconds had reduced to one-fifth of the last administration's level.

At this point the Presiding Officer raised himself from his throne to vent his rage at the squabbling members. "When I say order I expect order," was his message.  Personally, I wish he had added that if they didn't conform then it would be an open prison for the guilty.

The Open Estate and early release were Annabel Goldie's hobbyhorses and she made little impact because, as the FM pointed out, the tories had been the ones to introduce the Open Estate in the first place, but now they want to abolish early release Mr Salmond said he would be expecting their support for the forthcoming proposal to do just that.

Tavish Scott changed to the mattert of climate change, something which the public either love or ignore.  It appears Stop Climate Chaos Scotland had commented on the climate change bill calling it 'deeply ambitious'. The FM countered such claims with his own commenters' quotations.

Frank McAveety was seeking reassurance that all was being done to help pupils, parents and staff at the school in his constituency which has an outbreak of swine flu. Reassurance was given by the FM and he told Parliament the public health officials were at the school this morning to give parents the guidance they need.

Ian McWhirter was 'the voice of the media' at the end of the programme.  Three points he made are worth noting.  He gave credit to Alex Salmond for the way he uses the microphone and continues to talk even through the unruly shouting of members, knowing full well that viewers could hear him even although his words were nigh on impossible to hear by those present in a noisy chamber.  Point two - he felt the opposition had missed the boat regarding acquiring the scalp of Kenny MacAskill. "If they had got together last week and had a cohesive attack they may have achieved, it but now it's too late."  Point three - the government are getting away with abandoning their 3% climate change policy and introducing a softer one.  Time up, fade out.

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FMQs 7 May 2009

A windy Thursday in Edinburgh I believe and another FMQs in the Scottish Parliament.  The First Minister opened his answers with asking everyone to appreciate the benefit the Scottish parliament has been to Scotland over the past 10 years although he of course qualified it by saying further powers were required.

Ian Gray gave a spirited performance listing the SNP government's 'broken promises' but if he expected to land a hit on the First Minister, he was disappointed.  Alex Salmond had his own written list of successes in the past two years and it was like a game of ping-pong watching the old sound bites whisking back and forth.

Annabel Goldie (rather smart hairdo Annabel) tried hard to achieve an answer to her question which was where was the First Minister intending to make the cuts in the light of the £500m deficit imposed on Scotland from the Westminster budget.  The First Minister mentioned an all party committee had been organised but he did not give a detailed response to her question. A very difficult question this was for Alex Salmond and one which I think he has certainly discussed with John Swinney and others, although I'm sure they will not make their opinions public until it is absolutely necessary.

Tavish Scott broached the subject of al-Megrahi and the Libyan authorities request for his transfer stating he wished that al-Megrahi should serve his sentence in Scotland. As with all legal matters it was a balancing act of information, but not much of it, from the First Minister. He reiterated what he said in 2007 that it would have been "greatly preferred if the judicial processes of Scotland were allowed to take their course."  He repeated that the decision which is made by the justice secretary will not be made on economic grounds or political grounds but judicial grounds alone.

A couple of backbencher questions completed the BBC TV recording session. I really must listen to it on radio and because removing the cameras from the Chamber when there is still a third of FMQs to be heard, is becoming more and more frequent.  Why can't we just see the whole 30 minutes?  I can't see any problem.

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FMQs 30 April 2009

A rather subdued FMQs today I thought but of course the main subject matter warranted it. Ian Gray's questions were all concerned with the swine flu virus which led to the First Minister giving some interesting facts about the present situation in Scotland and pandemic processes. Of particular interest was the FM's explanation of why the WHO has raised the level from 4 to 5.  It seems that in accordance with pandemic WHO structures, once they have proof that a virus can travel human to human and enough evidence is available in two countries to verify this, then the WHO have no option other than to raise the warning level.  There was evidence in both Mexico and the US and it was this which triggered the level increase.  As well as these details the FM explained the testing system used in Scotland and the differences between possible and probable cases.  

Alex Salmond detailed the preparations for a pandemic in Scotland and suggested perhaps we are better prepared than any other country.  The exchange between Mr Gray and the FM was all rather cordial, a pleasure to see.

Annabel Goldie also questioned on the flu's progress but also asked if we were prepared for a pandemic where gatherings in public places may be banned.  The FM stated he was concentrating on the present and immediate situation but Scotland's NHS and other agencies were fully briefed on how to handle further developments.

Tavish Scott decided to go with the alleged fall in teacher numbers.  (A bit of advice Tavish, don't try to put so many puns into one paragraph).  Of course the FM suggested Tavish's sums were quite incorrect but hoped he agreed Scotland's budget was being cut by just short of £500m.  I've heard that before somewhere.

All in all an informative FMQs with regard to our public health system.

Note:  Several times I've criticised Ian Gray and said he really does need to show some sparkle at FMQs. Seems I'm not the only one. Perhaps now there are two of us he may take heed.

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