Aunt Annabel Departs But the Tories Can Live Again

So farewell then, Annabel Goldie. As Hamish Macdonnell says, your position was weakened by the inquest into last year’s disappointing (let’s be kind, here) Westminster results. But Miss (never Ms) Goldie can step down knowing that her party is better-off than either Labour or the Liberal Democrats.

A cynic might suggest it’s easy for a leader to be honest when they know they have little chance of being invited into government, no matter what result the election might produce. And cynicism always appeals. Nevertheless – a very Annabelish word – the election campaign went almost as well for the Scottish Tories as could have been hoped. True, they lost a brace of seats but compared to  shipwrecked Labour, far less the poor Liberal Democrats, they emerged from the nationalist storm in more or less seaworthy condition.

Moreover, the SNP’s majority is a clarfiying moment for the Tories. For the first time since home rule they are in a position to behave like a proper opposition party.