Why aren't the Tories campaigning for an independent Scotland?

[Platypus]

If Scotland were independent, the Tories would be hard pushed to lose a general election ever again. Or as a minimum it would take 40 odd seats away from Labour overnight.

So why aren't they campaigning for independence?

I don't get it. Help me out!

[Mich the Tester]

If Scotland were independent, the Tories would be hard pushed to lose a general election ever again. Or as a minimum it would take 40 odd seats away from Labour overnight.

So why aren't they campaigning for independence?

I don't get it. Help me out!

Because, believe it or not, and I know it's an unfashionable point of view, many Tories would like to do what they think is the right thing for the UK instead of purely the right thing for their party's election chances. I'm sure there are people in the other parties who are similarly motivated.

[expat]

Because, believe it or not, and I know it's an unfashionable point of view, many Tories would like to do what they think is the right thing for the UK instead of purely the right thing for their party's election chances. I'm sure there are people in the other parties who are similarly motivated.

Quite so. It's officially the Conservative and Unionist Party.

[MicrosoftBob]

It could be reverse psychology, if the evil tories don't want independence for Scotland it must be a good thing

Hence all the neds will vote for it, and the tories will get what they want

[scooterscot]

If Scotland were independent, the Tories would be hard pushed to lose a general election ever again. Or as a minimum it would take 40 odd seats away from Labour overnight.

So why aren't they campaigning for independence?

I don't get it. Help me out!

Imagine your the PM and you've just allowed the union to breakup. Historians would look back on Cameron and wonder why he took a back seat throughout the campaign.


I've noticed opinion polls now indicated 38% in favour of independence. Only a 5% swing is required from the no's.

Still I think it's unlikely but it's a hell of risk for the PM to take a back seat.

[OwlHoot]

Because, believe it or not, and I know it's an unfashionable point of view, many Tories would like to do what they think is the right thing for the UK instead of purely the right thing for their party's election chances. I'm sure there are people in the other parties who are similarly motivated.

WHS

and I've just twigged why the Spanish are making trouble over Gibraltar all of a sudden.

Distraction from their economic woes is the obvious, plausible solution. But the real reason could be strong disapproval over what they see as weakness in the UK's handling of the Scottish Independence question. After all, Catalonia is itching to become independent of Spain, and that is Spain's economic powerhouse, the equivalent of South East England wanting to break away from the UK!

[VectraMan]

Because, believe it or not, and I know it's an unfashionable point of view, many Tories would like to do what they think is the right thing for the UK instead of purely the right thing for their party's election chances. I'm sure there are people in the other parties who are similarly motivated.

Of course Labour and the Lib Dems joined together to block the boundary changes that would have made the election results more accurately reflect the wishes of the people, because it would have disadvantaged them. You expect it of Labour, but the LibDems have been going on about making democracy work better for years.

So if Scots vote in favour of shooting themselves in the head next year, or "independence" if we're going to call it that, do they get to vote in the 2015 UK election? Surely independence won't happen that fast. Just another one of a million questions that show why the whole idea is moronic.

[OwlHoot]

.. the LibDems have been going on about making democracy work better for them for years. ..

FTFY

[russell]

If Scotland were independent, the Tories would be hard pushed to lose a general election ever again. Or as a minimum it would take 40 odd seats away from Labour overnight.

So why aren't they campaigning for independence?

I don't get it. Help me out!

Good question, but as usual it comes down to money. Scotland's Oil is worth a lot to the UK and if Scotland goes independent they will lose it.

If this is not true then the following must be true.

If Scotland went independent, the rest of the UK would be better of or at worst same and the tories would win most elections going forward depiste that the tories still want to keep Scotland as part of the UK.

[russell]

Because, believe it or not, and I know it's an unfashionable point of view, many Tories would like to do what they think is the right thing for the UK instead of purely the right thing for their party's election chances. I'm sure there are people in the other parties who are similarly motivated.

Good one.