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Party political canvassers deserve some sympathy as they engage in a noble pursuit that is part of our democracy, writes Murdo Fraser.

A new report comparing education systems around the world makes dismal reading for those concerned about schooling in Scotland, writes Murdo Fraser MSP.

While some traditional Conservatives who are opposed to Brexit and unenthusiastic about Boris Johnson are swithering about which party to support, the Scottish Tories are benefiting from tactical voting by unionists, writes Murdo Fraser.

Council by-elections and polls suggest Labour risks going the way of the dinosaurs as traditionally left-wing voters hold their noses to back the Tories because of fears over the Union or in the hope that the party will pick a more moderate leader after a big defeat, writes Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser.

There have been failures in the delivery of SNP’s Curriculum for Excellence policy that are particularly affecting pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. After a period of denial, at least there are now signs that the Scottish Government is starting to realise the need for a rethink, writes Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser.

Predictions of a Scottish Tory wipeout in the general election will prove unfounded, but Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party could ironically end up stopping the UK from leaving the EU, writes Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser.

Last week’s survey for Progress Scotland, the campaign group fronted by the former SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson, gave some encouraging news for unionists, with its revelation that 25 per cent of those who voted Yes to independence in 2014 had changed their mind, whilst only 12 per cent of former No voters had switched to Yes.

The father of modern economics, Kirkcaldy’s Adam Smith, wrote in 1755: “Little else is requisite to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the lowest barbarism but peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice; all the rest being brought about by the natural course of things”.

Conservatives can look forward to a Brexit-dominated general election with considerable optimism – whatever parliament decides to do about Boris Johnson’s deal with the EU, writes Murdo Fraser.

If there was anywhere that SNP MSPs wanted to be last week, it certainly wasn’t in the Holyrood Chamber voting down a series of amendments put forward by Conservative MSPs to exempt key workers from the proposed car park tax.

SNP Finance Secretary Derek Mackay told his party conference that Scotland could “more than afford to be independent”, but the nationalist prospectus is threadbare, while the unionist case is clear, writes Murdo Fraser.

The failure of the Scottish Government to pass on the vast majority of Brexit funding directly to councils suggests that they not only want a no-deal, but want to make the resulting economic damage worse in the hope of boosting support for independence, writes Murdo Fraser.

Last week the Scottish Parliament passed world-leading climate change legislation, embedding in law a “net-zero” target for 2045, which means that any CO2 emissions after that date have to be completely offset with carbon-absorbing measures such as increased tree planting.

Last week marked the fifth anniversary of the 2014 independence referendum, giving rise to questions as to how attitudes might have changed in the intervening period.

Values derived directly from Christianity, such as the benefits of moderation, provide an antidote to the bitterness and division of Brexit, writes Murdo Fraser.

It was on Christmas Day 1950 that a group of four Scottish students broke into Westminster Abbey, and removed the Stone of Destiny from King Edward I’s Coronation Chair.

I will not be the only Conservative representative who was concerned to see 21 MPs effectively expelled from the parliamentary party, after they could not support the Prime Minister in a vote in the House of Commons last week.

When Ruth Davidson defeated me for the leadership of the Scottish Conservatives back in 2011, I really didn’t believe that the party was capable of revival. I underestimated her. With a combination of energy, charisma, and a great deal of effort, she took the Scottish Conservatives from political irrelevance to being the second force in Scottish politics.

Last week I climbed my 199th Munro, Sgurr Nan Each, in the Fannichs in Wester Ross. I had hoped to make my tally over 200, but facing horizontal rain and high winds on adjoining Sgurr Breac, along with my climbing companions took the prudent decision to turn back around 2,500ft. My double century will have to wait for another day.