It’s beyond time our devolved parliament returned to its founding principles

The Scottish Conservative’s Murdo Fraser, perhaps understandably sore at the continued decline in his party’s electoral fortunes - and the recent high-profile defection to Reform of Lord Malcolm Offord – lamented that, thanks to Reform, ‘we will be guaranteed another five years of the SNP.’

This narrative is supported by the governing party. A spokesperson said ‘This result shows Labour’s vote has collapsed and that only the SNP can stop Farage at next year’s election.’

We must expect more of this ‘only we can stop them’ banality as we move into 2026, from the SNP about Reform and vice-versa. I doubt I’m alone in being irked by this style of electioneering, even when it may be accurate.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the result ‘a fantastic victory,’ noting that the party hadn’t been expected to win. Scottish Labour’s Jackie Baillie acknowledged the result suggested voter frustration, while slamming the SNP and Reform for ‘talking up division for political gain.’

Meanwhile, the Scottish Greens were busy lodging a parliamentary motion expressing oncern for those currently engaged in a hunger strike as they await trial for alleged criminal damage under the banner of proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action. The motion expressly states that the SNP, Green, and some Scottish Labour signatories do so in “solidarity with the prisoners, their families and their supporters”.

Should parliamentarians be responding this way to a hunger strike that has reportedly already hospitalised five of the seven individuals involved? That’s questionable. Perhaps more pertinent is that, given the SNP’s reticence to address the failings of our own NHS, or the Scottish Prison Service, why on earth are they supporting motions on reserved matters they have no legislative or executive power over?

Leaving that aside (for now), some perspective about Reform: the turnout in Whitburn and Blackburn was a piteous 22.2 per cent of the electorate. This isn’t unusual for local elections, of course. But it’s why it would be unwise to glean certainties from this sole result. Turnout at the last Scottish Parliament elections was 63 per cent.

What is clear generally, however, is how Reform may benefit from the ‘scunnered’ vote – as the SNP itself once did. The political rhetoric about ‘change’ and being an alternative to the tired traditional parties is precisely the one that worked for the SNP. A problem, of course, is that they’ve never stopped using it despite being in power for nearing two decades. There’s a common narrative, promulgated by Reform itself, that they’re the party for those sick of the ‘woke’ issues favoured by the likes of the SNP and Greens. That they’re ‘anti- establishment’, despite, the whole ‘just-gained-a-Lord’ thing.

They’re also undeniably tapping into a rising UK nationalism, and yes, a rising anti-immigration sentiment, which Scottish exceptionalists have long seemed to think would never happen here.

Whether Lord Offord’s insistence that the party he’s defected to genuinely can present ‘a positive vision for Scotland inside the UK’, restoring it to a ‘prosperous, proud, healthy and happy country’ feels doubtful.

What’s long interested me, however, is why neither Scottish Labour, nor the Scottish Conservatives, can seem to present themselves as a viable alternative, both to the SNP’s incompetence, and Reform’s hubris.

I declare an interest here: I’m of the class of people referred to as ‘politically homeless.’ I’ve voted across the range of political parties during my lifetime (sometimes tactically, with no real enthusiasm) and would dearly like to make up my mind soon about what to do in May.

I’d envisioned I’d do my usual routine on election night: pointlessly staying up with maize-based snacks and a cheeky merlot, WhatsApping fellow politically-engaged but similarly uncertain friends, into the wee small hours.

But even this small pleasure is to be scrapped, with the Electoral Management Board forScotland recently announcing the vote count will take place during the day instead of overnight. ‘A blow to traditionalists’ ran one headline.

I find myself feeling like one these days. I still do Christmas cards, for one thing. But politically, I’d dearly like to say with confidence – as I once did - I love living in Scotland; our parliament functions effectively; I trust (enough of the time) the devolved government doesn’t want to drive me mad personally and horribly divide the population, and, particularly, that the Scottish education system is world-class. It used to be. Neither the SNP nor Reform can provide that. So, again, where are Scottish Labour and the Tories? Well, they’re caught in the trap the SNP made for them, responding constantly to the constitutional question that isn’t even on the table, no matter how much die-hard independence supporters would like it to be.

Like most people, what I’d most like from our politicians is seriousness where required on a number of issues, an end to ridiculous posturing over things they’ve no control over, and a commitment to ending the appalling rise in people playing TikTok videos on public transport.

I’d enthusiastically support the Tories call for banning mobile phones in schools. I’m persuadable Scottish Labour might have some answers about the housing crisis. (Unfortunately, when you click on that particular link on their website, it comes up with ‘Oops! Page Not Found.’)

One thing I know for certain is, of all things I wish for from the next parliament, it’s that none of these parties has a majority. It’s beyond time our devolved parliament returned to its founding principles. It wasn’t designed to usher in the divisions we’re all scunnered by, no matter our voting intentions.