WITH the ongoing self-inflicted shambles in the UK Tory party hitting the headlines and their party in Scotland abandoning their toxic Prime minister, much speculation as to the consequence of such shenanigans on Scottish politics in the future now takes centre stage.
Quite clearly D Ross, the self-appointed standard bearer for “anti-sleaze” politics, has seized the opportunity to boost the flagging support for the Tories in the coming Scottish local elections and at the same time is hoping such actions will attract favour with the “new” Tory PM who ever that will be. It’s a major calculated risk both to his future prospects within the party and the future of the Tory party in Scotland. If Johnson survives as Prime Minister, even in the short term, then Ross will feel the fury of a leader scorned and I am sure that his so-called supportive MSPs will disappear back into the shadows and a new leader of the Tories in Scotland will emerge.
READ MORE: Alister Jack accused of 'briefing' against Douglas Ross
As we now all know, our “lightweight” Tory faithful in Scotland mean less than nothing to the Tory elite in England. With a rump of a party in Scotland with no chance of ever achieving a majority and the present strength of their so-called “red wall” Tories, Scotland will remain a sideshow and will continue to be derided, disrespected, and cynically ignored at every opportunity.
There is talk and speculation of a so-called new Union-supporting centre-right party with a new nomenclature emerging from the post-Johnson partygate disaster if he survives to carry on as PM. The outcry and indignation of the Tory support in Scotland would have to be at such a high level for the creation of a new Scottish independent Tory party. I can only see this happening after we achieve independence.
In the meantime, it is clear that the Union-supporting Tories in Scotland will never break with the English-Tory run Conservative and Unionist Party (it’s in their DNA). Johnson will go and a new leader will be appointed. The Tories in Scotland will toe the line and I am afraid D Ross will be the fall guy. His brief, righteous sortie into standing up to PM Johnson will seem disloyal to the party regardless, and he will find himself in the political wilderness. There is only one Tory party in the UK and that is the English Tory party. You never hear “English Conservatives” being spoken of South of the Border, only the Conservatives! There is no such thing as “Scottish Conservatives”, only Conservatives, and they look to down south for their political direction and guidance always.
Dan Wood
Kirriemuir
I WAS watching Question Time on Thursday night and a chap from the audience posed a question seeking to find the big advances due to devolution. My own immediate answer might have been couched in terms of pointing out Scotland’s ongoing quasi-colonial status relative to England and that this was the whole point of devolution, but it for those not interested in politics the following might be a better illustration.
WATCH: NOBODY in St Andrews Question Time audience will defend Boris Johnson
The analogy would be of Scotland like an older son or daughter who had stayed on in the family home, while giving the parents a contribution from their wages to cover their upkeep. The advantage, as they saw it, would be that they wouldn’t starve, they would have a roof over their head, get their washing done and they wouldn’t have to take any of the financial or other decisions about their lives.
However, the downside was that they would never be able to fulfill their full potential by using their own talents and energy in the wider world and would never appreciate what that potential was or find out whether their parents were being fair to them or were instead becoming dependent on them.
R Millar
Darvel
CAN anyone explain to me why Emily Thornberry had to come up from London to do Question Time in St Andrews? Are there no Labour MSPs willing to face questions from the public?
We all know Boris Johnson lies and has indeed been sacked twice for lying, but the habit is spreading. Stephen Kerr lied twice in 10 seconds about the record of the Scottish Government on the same Question Time, and of course Thornberry and Fiona Bruce don’t correct him – probably because they know little about Scotland. We must remember Kerr is the Tory Whip here in Scotland and takes on the job with relish, learning from the whips in Westminster when he was there.
READ MORE: Stephen Kerr 'lies twice in 10 seconds' about SNP record
I think the defection of the Tory to Labour ranks in Westminster will come back to bite them. I can just see the headlines “Tories and Labour inseparable – two sides of the same coin” and for what? A few minutes’ glory at PMQs.
Seriously, if in the present circumstances Labour cannot give a good showing at PMQs without grand gestures they should not be there – they should not need stunts which leave their own labour people dumbfounded and angry having had no warning in the constituency about the move.
Winifred McCartney
Paisley
THE media circus regarding Boris and the calls for his resignation centre around the never-ending stream of Downing Street parties and his participation in them. One would think this would encourage hordes of Tory voters to change allegiance. I’m not so sure. The die-hard “I’m alright Jack” Tory voter who isn’t affected by the rise of prices will continue to vote Tory.
Others, the disillusioned, may just switch off and join the apathy brigade and not vote at all. So nothing changes, except Boris. He may eventually resign but in many ways, so what?
The only route for real change is independence, so let’s get out there and persuade the apathetic to see the virtues of a democratic Scotland. We must do this for future generations. We must, or as Fraser would say in Dad’s Army:”We are doomed!”
Robin MacLean
Fort Augustus
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