Jamie Blackett

How George Galloway and I plan to save the Union

Getty images

For me – and, I suspect, for many Scottish Tories – a lot of my time in lockdown was characterised by a sense of frustrated impotence. I would sit in front of the television in furious disbelief as I watched Nicola Sturgeon, the unchallenged leader of a one-party state, on the BBC, answering useless questions from selected journalists who offered no supplementary interrogation. As Sturgeon’s poll ratings soared my morale sank. What are we dejected Unionists to do? How can we stop the SNP’s march towards a second referendum when the mainstream opposition to Sturgeon from the Scottish branch offices of the Tory, Labour and Liberal parties has been risible?

Then three weeks ago George Galloway came to lunch. He wanted to discuss his new party (he has founded quite a few), the Alliance for Unity. A4U is a cross-party coalition with the aim of transforming the silent and fragmented pro-Union vote into an election winning force. After some consideration I accepted the role of deputy leader and the pattern of my hitherto agricultural life between now and the Scottish Parliament elections in May is starting to clarify. I have just been speaking to a man called Goat, who might make a YouTube documentary showing me travelling around with George, highlighting misgovernment and unhappiness in Sturgeon’s Scotland. 

George and I are quite the ‘odd couple’ to lead a party. I am a Tory, rural, Remain-voting, former solider. George… isn’t. But we are both keen to demonstrate that the fact we are from opposing ends of the political spectrum is a strength. In the A4U we want the broadest possible coalition from all political faiths and none to defeat the SNP. George, who is much better educated than I am, calls our partnership the most extreme political alliance since the Fox-North coalition.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in