An Important Matter Of Principle

The decline of the Conservative party in Scotland has been dramatic. In 1955 the party secured half of the Scottish vote. At the 1997 election it won a mere 17 per cent, losing its representation at Westminster in the process. Despite its importance, relatively little is known about why the Conservative party has declined so much in Scotland.Many explanations for the party’s decline have largely remained untested. These include: the party losing its Protestant base; its opposition to devolution; and it becoming too right-wing for a normally progressive Scottish electorate.