I’m not sure this is all as dramatic as it looks on first showing.
Firstly, I also don’t think the Union should be maintained at "all costs"- in the unlikely event that a majority voted against the continuance of the UK then, believing in the standard principles of democracy, I couldn’t in all conscience support any resulting extra-parliamentary action or, (God forbid) terrorist campaign to maintain the Union. The fact that over 50% of prospective Conservative MPs apparently would is actually slightly disturbing
So, if I were a prospective Conservative candidate in one of the 220 most winnable seats, I would then be left with that second, "couldn’t give a toss if Scotland goes" option- which, surprise, surprise I also wouldn’t be 100% comfortable with. So along with the 76 other candidates who didn’t take part in the survey, I wouldn’t have been prepared to deliver an answer on this one.
That doesn't make me "barely Unionist" though does it?
5 comments:
You are doing your best to counter spin this, but a not insignificant survey, i suggest. Close to half of tory PPC not unconfortable with the idea of an independent scotland. I'll take that for starters, whatever the qualifications.
"Close to half of tory PPC not unconfortable with the idea of an independent scotland."
You're doing a bit of spin yerself there...approx 70 from 646 candidates is not half the "tory PPC" by a long shot! Question were a leading ones, I wouldn't have been comfortable answering either
I agree with O'Neill. If a majority of the Scottish electorate ever voted for independence then the Union should not be maintained "at all costs". And under such circumstances I would be deeply disappointed but by no means "uncomfortable". It's a meaningless survey.
SU and Aye we Can
If you check the pdf of how the questions were asked:
http://tinyurl.com/n6kb9p
the attitudes to the EU, to take one example, is much more nuanced.
It certainly is more nuanced - there are a number of Tory MPs who on the quiet are happy to suggest England ditching the expensive and quarrelsome Union as more trouble than its worth - financially at least, England would be much better off.
That's why Alec Salmond's "Social Union" is such a clever piece of marketing, the implication is that nothing much changes but everybody is better off and in control of their own destiny without constant "outside" interference.
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