David Maddox: Smooth-talking suitor will need more than charm

WHEN David Cameron arrived in Scotland, he must have felt like a suitor whose advances always end up with the same result: a slap in the face.

And despite much effort, the General Election result was a painful one for the Conservatives in Scotland.

But Mr Cameron knows that one of his most important tasks over the next five years is to continue his flirtation with Scotland and try to win over the truculent object of his desires.

If he does not, then, with the geographic left-right political divide as it stands, the Union itself could be at risk.

What yesterday showed is that Mr Cameron sees the relationship with Scotland's political institutions, both its parliament and its government, as a priority. He had promised to come to Scotland in his first week as Prime Minister – in fact, he did it in less than 72 hours.

As he pointed out, Holyrood was actually the first parliament he visited after taking the official seal of office. It even beat Westminster.

He was also the first Prime Minister to officially visit the Holyrood building while in office. Gordon Brown never went there in three years as PM.

This perhaps gives us a clue about how he intends to deal with the thorny Scottish question. His visit took him to the parliament before going on to hold talks with First Minister Alex Salmond. His "respect" agenda pledge to send ministers from London to answer questions was an offer to the parliament, not the Scottish Government.

It is clear that he, like most observers, knows full well that Mr Salmond intends to play the mandate card to the maximum and use a Conservative-led government in London with only one Scottish seat as another excuse for Scots to break the 300-year-old Union.

Even though he clearly charmed and impressed Mr Salmond yesterday, it is obvious the First Minister will not be putting away his old tactics of grudge, gripe and grievance.

Charm and good manners on Mr Cameron's part can go only so far. In the end, he cannot accede to all or many of the Nationalists' requests or spare Scotland from the pain of the cuts to come. This is why the way he uses his relationship with Holyrood is essential. By appearing publicly before MSPs, he can argue his case to the wider Scottish public. He can attempt to present himself as not just reasonable but also fair, something he is more than capable of doing.

It could also help end the stigma the Tories still carry as "anti-devolutionists" – the ones who tried to stop the creation of the Scottish Parliament. Symbolism is important, and having a platform from which to speak in the heart of a country is also important.

Mr Cameron knows this and he knows his party has a daunting task ahead if it is to win back the trust of the Scottish people.

Meanwhile, he can conveniently rely on Danny Alexander and the Liberal Democrats to act as a human shield when things begin to get sticky with the cuts.