James Simpson: There is a place for disaffected Scottish Tories

Published on 16/08/2012 00:00

Andrew Whitaker’s thoughtful piece on the future of the Scottish Tories was an accurate and timely assessment of the party’s current position.

He quite rightly points out that there is little chance of the Scottish Tories’ terminal decline being halted in the foreseeable future.

Many former Tory voters must be wishing that Murdo Fraser, not Ruth Davidson, had been chosen as party leader. His “nuclear option” of disbanding the old party and replacing it with something fit for purpose for the 21st century must now seem attractive compared with its ongoing, painful decline.

There is, however, light at the end of the tunnel for the large swathe of the electorate whose political views currently have no home.

The Scottish Progressives, a party with a long and distinguished track record in Scottish politics, is returning to the fray to fill the ideological vacuum caused by the unprecedented lack of opposition to Scotland’s dominant socialist and left-leaning parties.

With a programme of careful and sensible policies to tackle Scotland’s many ills, we will offer a visionary alternative those who have given up on politics here. Our intention is to make our country more efficient rather than manage decline more efficiently.

Many are left behind today. How can we expect them to succeed if we fail to give them the means? A good education is essential but the state sector has become a battleground between reforming politicians and powerful unions.

We must put our prejudices aside and open our minds as to what is best for our country and for our children. The Scottish Progressives intend to replace dismal and unaffordable policies with a vision reminiscent of the Scottish Enlightenment when we provided a beacon which guided the rest of the world for a considerable period.

We look forward to hearing from likeminded individuals who understand rights come with responsibilities and who are prepared to contribute to a civil society for the good of all.

• James Simpson is party spokesman for the Scottish Progressive Party, www.scottishprogressives.org