Prize is huge for Tory PM who fulfils Brexit

COULD anyone have been the least bit surprised when the political tsunami struck?

Having failed abysmally to keep their solemn promise to steer Britain safely out of the EU, the nation’s political elite was swept away in a deluge of voter anger and frustration.

Of course, if the Tories and Labour had carried out their chief task competently, they wouldn’t have suffered such a blistering backlash.

Indeed, the despairing electorate would never have been asked to take part in a preposterous poll for the European Parliament.

To recap, the Tories have squandered three years since being instructed by the people to deliver Brexit. This is why they endured their most torrid night in history – polling a pitiful 9 per cent.

In comparison, Ruth Davidson’s Scottish Conservatives retaining their one seat represented something of a success.

Labour was also eviscerated, struggling to creep over 14 per cent and plummeting to fifth place in Scotland.

For the main opposition to fail to make hay out of the Tories’ turmoil was astonishing.

And yet, was this a shock? Jeremy Corbyn’s motley rabble are intellectually incoherent on the biggest political issue of our age.

With cynical opportunism, the duplicitous Marxist (a lifelong Eurosceptic) has pursued a risible policy of ‘constructive ambiguity’ – otherwise known as an utter unwillingness to get off the fence.

Desperate to avoid alienating Leave voters in the party’s heartlands or metropolitan Remain supporters, he chose, Janus-like, to face both ways.

Yesterday, the fence collapsed spectacularly. Spooked by its hammering, the party went into meltdown over whether to demand a ‘People’s Vote’ (Isn’t that what the first referendum was?)

Significantly, Mr Corbyn’s closest political allies said a second vote was now the ‘only option’, even though it risked a Labour wipe-out in the party’s heartlands. Hard-Left union bruiser Len McCluskey urged supporters to reject these ‘siren calls’.

Undoubtedly, both parties have been punished for painting Brexit as shades of grey, when the referendum was black and white.

Remarkably, the Brexit Party – led by its self-appointed messiah Nigel Farage – hoovered up a third of the votes, including a seat in Scotland. The SNP managed to swallow up much of the pro-Remain vote, helping it secure a 37.7 per cent share in Scotland. Unsurprisingly, Nicola Sturgeon was quick to use the result to bang the drum once again for independence.

However, the SNP leader might wish to exercise some caution when using the election as a means to further her separatist agenda. Her party’s 594,533 votes were far fewer than the one million-plus Scots who voted Leave in 2016.

The Brexit Party’s success in Scotland is no surprise, since Scots who voted Leave rightly feel they are under-represented. Mr Farage’s advance north of the Border provides a reminder that Scotland is not as far removed from UK politics as Miss Sturgeon likes to pretend.

Tricky times lie ahead. The next Prime Minister will need optimism, hope and immense powers of persuasion to unite a fractured party and country. Crucially, they must be able to command loyal support – especially in Parliament.

Breaking the political paralysis of Brexit will allow the Government to focus on other problems.

We do not underestimate the difficulties ahead. But the prize is there for the taking – and it is enormous.