OT : Scottish Conservatives to Form New Party?

kurako

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14778353

MSP Murdo Fraser told the BBC: "What we have to do is get many more people elected from Scottish constituencies to support David Cameron and a future UK Conservative government and the best way to do that is to create a new progressive centre-right with a Scottish identity."

So what you're saying is the Tories are so unpopular in Scotland that you're going to form a new party so you can get more people elected in order to sit and support the Tory government. Ha ha. Good luck with that!

I reckon the reaction from the Scottish electorate will be a resounding "Get tae f*ck!".

nation

Yeah, I don't see anyone voting Tory, regardless of what they decide to call themselves.

asquithea

Why not? It worked for "New" Labour...

nation

"New" Labour came with a pretty significant shift to centrist policies.

The Tories don't seem to be planning much more than a name change. If they pitch themselves as an SNP-like centrist party and don't push English-style privatisation of the NHS and gutting of higher education then they may conceivably catch a few votes from people uncomfortable with the SNP's independence agenda.

Of course, nothing has made people warm to the idea of independence more than the Tories in Westminster at the moment...

rick_chasey

If Scotland was to become independent, the number of natural labour seats in parliament would be significantly reduced.

roger_merriman

well it's not as if they can do much worse is it?

First.Aspect

Rick Chasey wrote:

If Scotland was to become independent, the number of natural labour seats in parliament would be significantly reduced.

And?

kurako

First Aspect wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

If Scotland was to become independent, the number of natural labour seats in parliament would be significantly reduced.

And?

An independent Scotland may benefit the Scottish Tories. At the moment a Tory vote means backing for a government that not many support. The Lib Dem vote will probably suffer too because of the coalition. If it wasn't for the baggage of propping up an 'English' dominated party then maybe people would look at the policies instead and vote that way if they were so inclined.

rick_chasey

First Aspect wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

If Scotland was to become independent, the number of natural labour seats in parliament would be significantly reduced.

And?

There's a party political incentive when it comes to Scotland that shouldn't be overlooked.

While the Tories by their nature are pro-union, I would imagine some less traditional Tories (or at least, Tories who are not fussed about Scotland either way) can see the upside of Scottish separatism.

Koncordski

Kurako wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

If Scotland was to become independent, the number of natural labour seats in parliament would be significantly reduced.

And?

An independent Scotland may benefit the Scottish Tories. At the moment a Tory vote means backing for a government that not many support. The Lib Dem vote will probably suffer too because of the coalition. If it wasn't for the baggage of propping up an 'English' dominated party then maybe people would look at the policies instead and vote that way if they were so inclined.

I seem to remember a recent election where not a lot of people wanted to support Labour (conveniently dropping the NEW) either. And lets face it nobody wants the lib-dems in any government. Breaking the union is a bad idea domestically, a terrible idea globally and is not very popular either side of Hadrian's wall. Salmond knows this, it's why he constantly fluffs the opportunity to hold his precious referendum. Good rhetoric for bashing westminster whilst simultaneously taking the money.

First.Aspect

Rick Chasey wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

If Scotland was to become independent, the number of natural labour seats in parliament would be significantly reduced.

And?

There's a party political incentive when it comes to Scotland that shouldn't be overlooked.

While the Tories by their nature are pro-union, I would imagine some less traditional Tories (or at least, Tories who are not fussed about Scotland either way) can see the upside of Scottish separatism.

The United Kingdom of Greater London and the Home Counties. That should do it.

rick_chasey

First Aspect wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

If Scotland was to become independent, the number of natural labour seats in parliament would be significantly reduced.

And?

There's a party political incentive when it comes to Scotland that shouldn't be overlooked.

While the Tories by their nature are pro-union, I would imagine some less traditional Tories (or at least, Tories who are not fussed about Scotland either way) can see the upside of Scottish separatism.

The United Kingdom of Greater London and the Home Counties. That should do it.

You forget the inbred farmers!

First.Aspect

Koncordski wrote:

Good rhetoric for bashing westminster whilst simultaneously taking the money.

What money? Is it the same money that the Welsh take, or different money? What about the money that less well off parts of England take, or do they not take that because they are English, and so quite clearly British. Or is it the oil money that is taken?