With one notable exception most of the Tory “establishment” appears to be backing Ruth Davidson in the Scottish Conservative leadership election. That exception is David McLetchie. The former leader has announced he is endorsing Murdo Fraser. But, as befits an Edinburgh lawyer, McLetchie’s support is not perhaps quite as forthright as Fraser would like. Although he praises Murdo’s “ability, experience and vision” he adds:
“So far this campaign has been dominated by discussion of Murdo’s proposal to realign the centre right in Scottish politics in a new party of which the present Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party would be an integral part. Indeed it would be an essential and necessary part because only with the approval of our members will this happen at all. That requires a 2/3rds majority at a special constitutional Conference and our members will want to be assured on many points before that consent is forthcoming. Crucial to this will be a clear commitment to continued support for the Conservative government of David Cameron and the preservation of rights which they currently enjoy as part of the UK Party such as attendance at conference and the right to vote in UK leadership elections – although I sincerely trust there will not be one of them for a long time to come. Members will also want to be convinced that such a realignment can be achieved and that it is more than just a theoretical construct beloved of the political chattering classes.
“To do that Murdo needs to provide hard evidence of new supporters from the ranks of those who share our values and agree with us on many policies but presently decline to support us.
Emphasis added. In other words, McLetchie is saying: I think Murdo’s analysis is promising but, gosh, I wish he’d gone about this in a slightly different fashion and he has a lot to do if he’s to convince the membership that he can really pull this off. Where are the new supporters and who the hell are they?“I believe that Murdo deserves the chance to demonstrate that he can bring this about from the position of Scottish Party Leader. He has a lot of people to convince but he starts with my good wishes because the prize at stake is a big one. I have been a Party member for 43 years. I have seen good times and bad but I have no objection in principle to being part of a bigger and more popular political organisation which reflects my values and beliefs as a Conservative. We need to be a broad church not a political sect.
Nevertheless, as Fraser says McLetchie’s endorsement means Murdo is supported by a majority of the Tory group at Holyrood. Or, in real terms, eight people. That’s a number that tells its own bleak story.
Chipper to the end, however, Fraser warns the party that We only need to look at Ed Miliband to see the danger of electing a leader who does not have the support of the Parliamentary party.
Aye, weel, that’s a fair point. But it also means that the party is evenly divided and since it’s divided on doctrinal, even existential gounds and not on matters of mere policy or tactics there must be a fair chance it will be an unhappy, divided house regardless of the result of the election. There will be much grumbling no matter what the outcome may be. Given the sharpness of the divisions it’s not evident either camp will be minded to accept the result even though all concerned will proclaim their willingness to do so.
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