Without recruits who understand Scotland, the ‘Union Unit’ will get nowhere - leader comment

A week where the 21st poll in a row indicated a majority of people in Scotland support the country becoming independent also brought the news of a recruitment drive for the Downing Street Constitution and Union Unit.
Boris Johnson's new 'union unit' does not deem knowledge of Scottish politics 'essential' in its job adverts.Boris Johnson's new 'union unit' does not deem knowledge of Scottish politics 'essential' in its job adverts.
Boris Johnson's new 'union unit' does not deem knowledge of Scottish politics 'essential' in its job adverts.

This included a job advert with the unfortunate line that knowledge of Scottish politics was “desirable” rather than essential. It was an own goal and a gift to the SNP, as well as perhaps an indication of the size of the task which awaits those backing the Union.

Words matter, whether they are on a recruitment form or out of the mouth of the Prime Minister.

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At a time when internal division is ripping apart the Nationalists, no-one is talking about anything other than a landslide victory in May’s Holyrood elections for Nicola Sturgeon’s party – and a fierce constitutional battle to follow, perhaps through the courts.

That a party which has been in government for so long and is currently mired in bitter infighting can still retain such a commanding lead says it all.

Last week’s Savanta ComRes poll for our sister paper The Scotsman showed the SNP is set to be backed by 54 per cent of voters in Scotland on the constituency ballot, with 43 per cent backing the party in the regional list. Such a performance would see them return 71 MSPs and sit with a majority of 13 – above even the 69 seats won in 2011, the last parliament in which the party governed with a majority.

The latest poll also showed the Scottish Conservatives retaining second place, with their strongest predicted performance on the constituency ballot since polling in October last year. But if that is a chink of light for the PM, it is very dim.

A total of 23 per cent of people in Scotland plan to back Douglas Ross’ party in their constituency, with 21 per cent backing the party on the regional list, which would see 24 MSPs elected, down seven from 2016.

Of course there are events between now and May which will surely affect the numbers, not least the appearance of Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond before the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints later this month – and let’s not forget the election of a new Scottish Labour leader is looming.

But the chances of the polls changing significantly would seem low. So there is much to do for the new recruits to the Union Unit, and even more you would suspect after May and the the real fight begins. Until recently the unit consisted of just one special adviser and a part-time official, but is now set to be beefed up considerably with aspirations to become 30-strong.

Can it really make a difference and shift the dial in Johnson’s and the Union’s favour? That very much remains to be seen but cutting out the unenforced errors would be a good first move. And it begins with understanding and engaging. Knowledge of Scotland is most definitely essential.

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