In the 1979 General Election, the Conservatives in Scotland took 31 per cent of the vote and won 22 of the 71 seats (the SNP went from their previous 11 to 2 seats). Margaret Thatcher became Prime-Minister for the first time.
In the 1983 general election, when Margaret Thatcher won her seocond term, the Scottish Tories won 21 seats.
In the 1987 election, the party won ten seats in Scotland.
22nd of November 1990, Margaret Thatcher resigned as Prime-Minister, to be replaced by John Major.
In the 1992, election the Conservatives won 11 seats in Scotland
In the 1997 Labour landslide, it lost all its Scottish MPs.
Remember in the first post-Thatcher election they won 11 seats; they now have recovered and hold a grand total of one seat.
A full 19 years after her resignation is it not a bit disingenuous and cowardly then to still be blaming the Iron Lady for the party’s continuing pitiful performance ?
3 comments:
Strangely they were debating Thatcher damaging the Scottish Tories last night on STV's Politics Now. The debate was between the journalist Colin McKay, Michael Forsyth and Jim Sillars.
Strangely even Forsyth conceded that Thatcher she had caused long term damage to the party. Sillars said that Thatcher's legacy was that despite the talents of the Tory benches in Holyrood, they were still flatlining.
I think you might be able to see the programme on the STV i-player or whatever it is called.
Strangely even Forsyth...Not strange at all, by blaming for present woes, it removes the responsibility from the likes of Forsyth.
Well said O'Neill.
Michael Forsyth, the man who demanded that Scotland get Devolution and a Parliament of her own, even resigning in protest over the issue, and who is now just as determined that England not be given equal treatment.
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