![]() A Tory triumph under a seemingly unstoppable Ruth Davidson. This was the night of the long claymores. Scots voters scythed down Alex Salmond, that tallest of tartan poppies, and 2. The General Election result north of the border was eye- poppingly savage and, in its way, thumpingly decisive. And on a night of crisis at Westminster, for those of a unionist persuasion it provided a moment of cheer. ![]() ![]() Where Theresa May fell short, the seemingly unstoppable Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, delivered in spades. Thanks to her, ‘Tory’ is no longer a dirty word in Scotland: the party doubled its share of the vote to 2. It was their best result since 1. Nicola Sturgeon has been put on notice: up your game or at the next Holyrood elections in 2. Aged just 3. 8, and arguably the most successful and popular Conservative in Britain, Miss Davidson looks to have a very big future ahead of her. In a party desperately short of star power, she glitters all the more brightly. 'Indeed, having spoken to many people who voted Yes in 2014 and to many others who did not but who would be open minded in future, what has struck me is the. The result means Scottish politics has changed utterly. The message has been sent loud and clear that a second independence referendum is not wanted, and that the SNP’s failure to get to grips with declining school performance and poor public services will not do. Nicola Sturgeon has been put on notice: up your game or at the next Holyrood elections in 2. There was no mercy shown on a night when reputation counted for nothing. Salmond lost to Tory Colin Clark, who in his victory speech declared ‘the silent majority have spoken — we’re proud to be part of the United Kingdom’. And that wasn’t just hyperbole. In 2. 01. 5, the share of the vote won by pro- UK parties in Scotland was 4. On Thursday, it was more than 6. A bigger blow to the Nationalists came when Angus Robertson, their impressive leader at Westminster, was turfed out of his Moray seat. Across the North, the central belt and the Borders, large, often five- digit majorities won just two years ago were swept away in the electoral whirlwind. Salmond lost to Tory Colin Clark, who in his victory speech declared ‘the silent majority have spoken — we’re proud to be part of the United Kingdom’Those separatists who survived often did so by the skin of their teeth: Stephen Gethins held on to North East Fife by just two votes over the Lib Dems after three recounts. In Perth, Pete Wishart won by 2. If this isn’t quite the end of the SNP — they retained 3. After a decade in power in Edinburgh, and the spell of prolonged mass popularity that followed 2. Nats are on the wane. It is the age- old problem of what happens when a passionate political movement actually wins power — and is exposed as being ill- equipped to run a whelk stall. Reports have shown that literacy and numeracy levels are falling among Scottish children, despite Miss Sturgeon’s promise to make education reform the centrepiece of her administration. In the end, her measures have been timid and unconvincing, largely because she is wary of alienating Left- wing teaching unions and public- sector workers who she hopes will support the break- up of Britain in a second referendum. The ultimate goal of independence has consistently acted as a block on the hard, thankless business of effective government. Finally, the Scots have woken up to this. Yet the First Minister is no fool. In an unusually muted speech at her official Bute House residence in Edinburgh yesterday, she hinted that a second referendum will now be put on the backburner.‘Undoubtedly, the issue of an independence referendum was a factor in this election result,’ she said. I’m going to reflect carefully on the result and going to take some time to do that.’She recognised ‘a desire to bring people together and find a way forward that was rooted in consensus. I recognise my responsibilities as First Minister to play my part in that, and for that to be very much in the forefront of my mind.’As welcome as this would be if it were genuinely her choice, in truth Miss Sturgeon has little option. How The Church Of The Apostles Was Hijacked By Rome (A History Of Apostasy And The Growth Of Antichrist) by William J. Mencarow (Free MP3)The Rise of the Papal. I was reminded of the “memory wars” of the 1990s yesterday when listening to an episode of Marc Maron’s popular WTF podcast. The guest, comedian Tom Arnold. Your club, your channel - MUTV. Watch your favourite Manchester United programmes on PC, Mac, mobile and tablet live and on demand. It’s You, Not Me: Why More & More Ministers Are Leaving Churches of Christ. ![]() Ruth Davidson’s success is in large part down to positioning her party as doughty defenders of the Union, while Labour and the Lib Dems have wobbled on the issue. Ruth Davidson’s success is in large part down to positioning her party as doughty defenders of the Union, while Labour and the Lib Dems have wobbled on the issue. She has repeatedly criticised Sturgeon for allowing her constitutional obsession to get in the way of the day job. Voters are clearly finding these arguments compelling, and it appears they could be losing faith in the SNP. If the Nats’ fall from grace continues at such a brisk pace, there is an outside possibility that Miss Davidson’s momentum could carry her all the way to Bute House in four years time. It will also worry the SNP that Scottish Labour is showing signs of life: after years in the doldrums, the party that gave Britain major figures such as Gordon Brown and John Smith has begun competing for left- of- centre votes again. Having lost all of its Westminster seats but one in 2. Thursday’s poll, giving a much- needed fillip to Kezia Dugdale, its leader at Holyrood. The Lib Dems, who had also been cut to a single seat last time around, increased their haul to four. Until now, to borrow Ken Clarke’s phrase about Theresa May, Miss Sturgeon has played the role of ‘bloody difficult woman’ in her relationship with the PM. She has demanded a special Brexit deal for Scotland that would allow continued access to the single market, and threatened a new independence referendum if her demands are not met. Now, I suspect, Mrs May will find that Ruth Davidson can also be bloody difficult. The Scottish Tory leader does not share the Prime Minister’s hardline take on leaving the EU, her desire to heavily restrict immigration, or her attachment to grammar schools. And the moral authority and political muscle now wielded by Davidson will make it hard for Mrs May to wave away her concerns: remember, without the 1. Scotland, the Prime Minister would not be back in Downing Street today. One question will linger: just how far can Davidson go? It’s not hard to think of this gifted Scot one day walking over the threshold of No 1. Is this the end for Nicola Sturgeon? SNP leader could be AXED following staggering losses to Tories led by Ruth Davidson as she admits calls for Indyref. Amie Gordon, Richard Spillett and Scott Campbell for Mail. Online. Nicola Sturgeon could face the sack after admitting her dogged pursuit of a second independence referendum cost the SNP seats. The First Minister's party lost a staggering 2. MPs north of the border - down to 3. Ruth Davidson's pro- Union Tories made huge gains. Nicola Sturgeon (pictured today) refused to resign after the SNP took a battering in Scotland and admitted her dogged pursuit of a second independence referendum had cost seats. An SNP source told Mail. Online there would be 'questions' over Ms Sturgeon's leadership. Her deputy John Swinney has also conceded they may have to look again at demanding Indyref. Speaking today Ms Sturgeon said SNP plans for another independence referendum were 'undoubtedly' a factor in the election result - but refused to admit it was 'dead'. She said: 'It is an inescapable fact we suffered bitterly disappointing losses last night. The independence referendum was undoubtedly an issue in this election but it was not the only issue'. When asked if she'll now dump Indyref. I'm going to pause and reflect carefully on the result and move forward in the best interests of all of Scotland'. She added said her party had 'clearly won the election in Scotland' and secured more seats than the other parties combined with a second vote at the heart of their manifesto. SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson and former first minister Alex Salmond were both dumped out of office by the Conservatives yesterday. The Tories' seats are up from one to 1. Ms Davidson is now being urged to take a 'leading role' in London - and is among the favourites to replace Theresa May after her election nightmare. Labour won seven seats in Scotland – up from the one they had left following their 2. Scottish Conservative leader Davidson said plans for a second independence referendum were now 'dead' and Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said the issue must 'disappear'. Nicola Sturgeon is facing massive backlash against her renewed bid to break up Britain. The loss of 2. 1 seats is the worst electoral reversal suffered by an SNP leader in nearly 4. Ms Sturgeon explained it by saying: 'I strongly suspect there were independence supporters amongst those who voted for Jeremy Corbyn yesterday,' she said, stressing that 'rushing to overly- simplistic judgments' about the election was 'not the right thing to do'. Deputy first minister John Swinney said earlier: 'Clearly the focus on the message of saying no to a second independence referendum gained very significant traction.'We saw that and we felt that.'Alex Salmond and Angus Robertson were among the SNP big hitters to lose their seat. Ms Sturgeon also slammed Theresa May for calling election and said she must now abandon her 'reckless' plans for Hard Brexit and 'keep the UK in the single market'. Sturgeon also said the prime minister had 'lost all authority and credibility,' and should resign. Ruth Davidson is being talked about as a possible replacement. Lord Ashcroft, a former deputy chairman of the Conservatives, said: 'Increasing calls even at this stage for Ruth Davidson taking a leading role in the national Conservative Party and rightly so.'It is now highly unlikely that the nationalists will be able to hold a second referendum with just 3. Before the polls opened, Ms Davidson warned of the dangers of further 'constitutional wrangling'She said: 'Every seat the SNP takes, will on Friday be hailed as a ringing endorsement of independence.'As ever, she will try claim that Scotland has spoken with one voice. Her voice.'I want that claim to ring hollow.
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