Fraser issues call for Scottish Tories to split from London

MSP Murdo Fraser has raised the issue of separate Conservative parties in Scotland and England once more.

In a column in a Scottish newspaper, Mr Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, suggested the best way to stop the SNP from having a majority would be to learn the lessons of Quebec, where the forces of federalism have “come together” to “see off the threat of separation”.

The Conservative Party of Canada will not contest elections in the province, instead encouraging supporters to vote for the Canadian Liberal Party.

This, he said, has resulted in Quebec’s independence parties losing vote shares since the last referendum in 1995.

He said in The Scotsman: “If we were to adopt a Canadian model of political parties, that would all still be possible.

“The key battleground ahead for us is 2021 – the Scottish Parliament elections – where a victory for the SNP with a majority of seats at Holyrood for pro-independence parties will lead to them claiming a mandate for a second referendum.

“The priority for unionists of all parties must be to defeat them in that objective. The lesson of politics in Quebec is that when the forces of federalism come together they can see off the threat of separation.

“If it worked there, it could work here – at least we should be considering whether the Canadian approach is one we can learn from.”

The Scottish Conservatives did not wish to comment on Mr Fraser’s column.

He had raised the prospect of having separate parties during his failed leadership bid, against Ruth Davidson in 2011.

Earlier this week Ms Davidson opposed any question of the party splitting.

...when the forces of federalism come together they can see off the threat of separatism.

MURDO FRASER