Tom Griffin (London, OK): ConservativeHome has today published a survey of 144 Tory candidates in the 220 most winnable seats for the party at the next general election.
One particularly eye-catching detail: 54 per cent say "the Union should be defended at all costs", while 46 per cent would "not be uncomfortable about Scotland becoming independent."
On the face of it this is a remarkable result for a party whose unionism traditionally has been a core value.
However, O'Neill at A Pint of Unionist Lite suggests that there may be less to the story than meets the eye:
Firstly, I also don’t think the Union should be maintained at "all costs"- in the unlikely event that a majority voted against the continuance of the UK then, believing in the standard principles of democracy, I couldn’t in all conscience support any resulting extra-parliamentary action or, (God forbid) terrorist campaign to maintain the Union. The fact that over 50% of prospective Conservative MPs apparently would is actually slightly disturbing.I
It may the that the 46 per cent are actually more on line with the low-key approach to fighting Scottish nationalism set out by David Cameron in 2006, in a speech which acknowledged that independence was conceivable:
I don’t believe that, in the 21st century, Scotland will be cowed or intimidated into remaining part of the UK through fear of the economic consequences of going it alone.
Those of us who believe in the Union have got to do better than that.
This magnanimous tone is likely to be tested as the Tories work out their response to the Calman Report on the future of Scottish devolution. It will ring hollow indeed if they are the party to break up the emerging consensus in favour of more financial powers for Holyrood.
