03.07.1997

Tory minority lines up with Scottish Socialist Alliance

Following their annihilation at the polls on May 1 tension within the Tory Party has reached boiling point.

Different factions and interest groups have seized upon the opportunity to apportion blame for their electoral disaster and to settle old scores both political and personal. In the run-up to their one-day conference in Perth this simmering tension exploded into open bloodletting and feuding in a political organisation not known for its open debate and internal democracy.

These events threatened to overshadow William Hague’s attendance and speech - his first major set-piece as party leader.

Throughout Britain the Tories have the problem of re-establishing themselves after being rejected as a tired, arrogant, sleaze-ridden government. In Scotland they have the additional, unpopular task of defending the union - the constitutional status quo, which even has a certain degree of unpopularity in their own party.

Their continued denial of the democratic aspirations held by people in Scotland meant they paid the electoral price. Michael Forsyth’s ‘tartan makeover’ had no one fooled - and a ‘beefed up’ Scottish Grand Committee and the return of the Stone of Scone were just as unconvincing.

The Labour government has the advantage of taking the initiative on these democratic aspirations, albeit in a negative way. It is attempting to divert them into a rigged referendum and a diluted Scottish parliament.

Within the Scottish Tory Party a vocal minority has been publicly flagging up ‘radical’ solutions to their problems. Individuals such as Edinburgh councillor Brian Meek, Arthur Bell, leader of the Tory Reform Group, and Christine Richard, former Tory leader of Edinburgh council, have been given extensive media coverage, particularly in the Scottish broadsheets such as The Scotsman and The Herald, detailing their blueprints for a swift return to power and influence for the Tories. Some of the ideas coming forward include support for devolution, greater autonomy for the Scottish organisation and a total reorganisation of the party and its structure, including ‘one member, one vote’ proposals for internal elections.

The high profile of these ‘new thinkers’ gave the impression that an historic and epic political battle was going to be fought at the Perth icerink for the body and soul of the Scottish Tory Party. In the end it was the proverbial damp squib - drowning in its own hype. With the partial exception of Christine Richard and one or two co-thinkers, this was a phantom rebellion. Meek and Bell both avoided the conference debates.

The overwhelming majority of speakers dedicated themselves to fight against any form of devolution, which they claimed would threaten the political integrity of the United Kingdom. In committing the Tories to leading the ‘no, no’ campaign in the referendum, Hague declared: “It is not our purpose to thwart the wishes of the people of Scotland. We will advise them against it, but if they want a Scottish parliament they will get one.”

Hague, Forsyth and their chums have spent the last 18 years in power doing just that - thwarting the wishes of the people of Scotland.

Following the defeat of her isolated call for devolution, Christine Richard claimed that the motion passed did allow for individuals to continue campaigning for devolution and that she was fully justified in her support for Scotland Forward.

Although partially upstaged by Michael Forsyth’s temporary return from political retirement for the conference, Hague managed at least to share the headlines. However, whether his call for unity and the setting up of a commission on party reorganisation will lead to electoral recovery is very debatable in the short term. Perhaps as important is whether they will stem the flow of business support away from his party to Labour. This is unlikely in the immediate future.

Despite the opposition being ineffectual by its absence from the conference, the ‘unity’ on show had an air of superficiality. For example, on Scottish Television’s Conference Report, ex-MP Allan Stewart directly challenged the UK-integrity line: “It is time to think the unthinkable if devolution comes - post-devolution independence could be the best option for Scotland and the best for Scottish Conservatives.”

Many have made clear that all they are concerned with is getting the referendum over with so they can devote themselves to getting some seats in the new parliament. In a fashion similar to the Scottish Militant Labour leadership within the Scottish Socialist Alliance, many Tories may be quite happy to let ‘the only show in town’ - Scotland Forward - get on with it.

Nick Clarke