For Scottish Conservatives, the prospect of a second referendum on Brexit opens a large can of worms
While Brexit has divided the Conservative Party south of the border, in Scotland it has been a point of unity, says John McLellan in a new book, ‘Will the Tory Party Ever Be the Same?’
Seven years ago the Scottish Conservative Party faced a stark choice. But the constitutional wrangling then was nothing to do with Europe and everything to do with the party’s ability to argue for the maintenance of the United Kingdom.
For the Scottish party the argument about Europe has not so much played second fiddle to the debate about Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom, but placed it firmly as first reserve for the third violins.
The battle with Scottish nationalism comes first because its threat is the most pressing, and while differences of opinion within the ranks about Brexit are as real as they are in the south, they do not create the same tensions.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies