An eye on Holyrood, Cameron vows 'I have not given up on Scotland'

Published on Wednesday 24 November 2010 17:26

PRIME Minister David Cameron has claimed that his party has not been "sufficiently Scottish or pro-union" to make a comeback north of the Border.

Speaking at the Press Gallery lunch in Westminster, Mr Cameron said he was "extremely disappointed" with the general election result in Scotland, where his party again only managed to return one MP, especially after the "effort" he had put in personally.

But Mr Cameron added: "I have not given up on Scotland and will fight hard to win votes there."

He argued that the Conservatives should have far more than 20 per cent of the vote north of the Border, claiming that there is widespread support for a centre-right party that is "pro-enterprise, family, modernising services, small state, and big society".

Mr Cameron's words appeared to suggest that he plans to play a major role in the Holyrood election and he insisted he was "not a voter loser".

But opponents said his words just revealed a lack of understanding of Scottish politics among the Tory high command.

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said: "It just underlines that David Cameron still does not get Scotland."

Mr Cameron made his comments as he became the first serving Prime minister to address the Press Gallery lunch since Margaret Thatcher 31 years ago.