Alex Massie Alex Massie

The Tories are playing a dangerous game with the Union

It is a measure of devolution’s success that politicians, provided they are of sufficient stature, can make waves and news even though they are not members of the House of Commons. In their different ways – and with their very different destinations in mind – both Nicola Sturgeon and Ruth Davidson demonstrate as much. The United Kingdom – for such it just about remains – is better for this. 

For some time now, we have been waiting for Davidson to make a Brexit intervention. This morning she obliged. Addressing yesterday’s near-fiasco on the other side of the north channel, the Scottish Tory leader released a statement demanding that:

‘If regulatory alignment in a number of specific areas is the requirement for a frictionless border, then the Prime Minister should conclude this must be on a UK-wide basis.’

No special deals for Northern Ireland and no special deals for any other part of the country either. What’s good enough for Northern Ireland should be good enough for England, Wales and Scotland too. This message was reiterated to the cabinet this morning by David Mundell, the Secretary of State for Scotland. And if that means that the UK has a closer relationship with the EU than some hardcore Brexiteers would like then so be it. The integrity of the UK is still supposed to matter to the Conservative and Unionist party even if many Scottish Tories have long been aware of the manner in which many English Tories think a clean, hard, extreme, Brexit from the European Union more important than maintaining and nurturing the Union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. That’s their choice, of course, though it’s one many Scottish Tories think close to unforgivable. 

The question on the referendum ballot paper, Davidson reminded her colleagues in London, ‘did not ask if the country should be divided by different deals for different home nations’.

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