Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness

Two unionist bloggers, O’Neill and Scottish Unionist, interpret Conservative attempts to foster a ‘constructive’ relationship with Scotland’s minority government quite differently. O’Neill, arguing from the perspective that devolution weakens the Union, is adamant that cooperating with the SNP merely bolsters the nationalists’ popularity. It should be Scottish Conservatives’ task to oppose separatism in Scotland; and by helping the minority administration to govern effectively, Annabel Goldie, and her party, are abdicating that responsibility, encouraging support for the SNP and simultaneously damaging both the Union and their own long term electoral prospects. In contrast, Scottish Unionist implies that devolved government, if it is popular and is perceived to be responsive to the public, can actually diminish the urge to independence. An emasculated SNP administration, its worst excesses curbed by a requirement for cross party support, can flourish without a commensurate fillip...

An important developmen t towards a closer relationship between government at Westminster and the devolved regions has been announced . David Cameron has added the Conservative party’s leader in Scotland, Annabel Goldie, to his shadow Cabinet. Previously on ‘Three Thousand Versts’ I've argued that aspiring to augment communication and involvement between Westminster and Holyrood was an inclination self-evidently unionist in character. Providing the party’s Scottish parliamentary group with a permanent voice at shadow Cabinet level underlines the importance which Cameron is according to the devolved regions. He is endeavouring to ensure that any Conservative government would represent the entire United Kingdom and enable that kingdom to work as well as possible, both at unitary level and as four constituent parts. To this end further regional additions to the shadow Cabinet would be welcome.

All the unionist parties in Scotland have now crawled on board and passed the SNP minority government’s budget. Scottish Conservatives had already joined nationalists in support of the package’s first reading. Liberal Democrats and Labour MSPs have since extracted enough concessions to secure their backing, leaving only two greens opposing the budget in a subsequent division, following its initial one vote defeat. Each party has done exactly the same in this instance. Annabel Goldie’s Conservatives found Alex Salmond and his finance minister John Swinney immediately receptive to their preconditions. The Tories therefore voted with the government at the first time of asking. Labour and the Lib Dems had their concerns addressed only after inflicting a narrow defeat on the SNP. The truth is that no party believes that Scotland would benefit if they were to force an early election, or render unworkable the current administration at Holyrood. In the teeth of recession, with Labour ...

O’Neill and Little Man in a Toque have proved quick out of the blocks on the Calman Commission interim report. I’ve only made my way (rather swiftly) through the summary PDF but although the documents will require more scrutiny, it is worth sketching out a little of the detail and perhaps outlining a few initial thoughts. Apologies, but my assessment is rather rushed. Firstly, notwithstanding the SNP’s attempts to establish unofficial separate Scottish representatives in foreign climes, the report is unequivocal in its recommendation that Westminster will “continue to be responsible for national defence and security, representing Scotland in international affairs”. It correctly asserts, “within a nation state, this is clearly the right solution”. The document does acknowledge that devolution offers a basis for different financial and welfare arrangements operating in different regions of the United Kingdom. However it infers that such variations might compromise common social ...

Without wishing to pre-empt the findings of the UUP – Conservative Working Group, it is my understanding that some detail will soon emerge as to how the parties’ relationship might develop. This will entail, at a minimum, the Tories endorsing Jim Nicholson and contributing to his campaign in the European election and an embargo on candidates from the two parties running against each other in the foreseeable future. It is as yet unclear whether modalities of nomenclature are ready to be announced or whether the Northern Irish party will receive financial backing from Conservative coffers. More evidence of increased cooperation is already emerging. Tom Elliot MLA has rowed in behind a Conservative spokesman on the environment, endorsing Peter Ainsworth’s view that Labour is not providing enough support for British formers and that more emphasis must be placed on promoting local produce as an alternative to expensive and environmentally unfriendly imports. Meanwhile Sir Reg Empey ha...