The evolution of the centre-right and the state of Scottish Conservatism

This article considers the decline of Scottish Conservatism, 1951-97. The s tatistical data indicate that 91 percent of the variance in Tory support is accounted for by an underlying negative trend against time, that similar p atterns appear when the data is disaggregated by region, and that short-ter m fluctuations have been more in conformity with English results than is co nventionally understood. The process of generational change is seen as a wa ning of the cultural conditions which produced the centre-right coalition t hat dominated Scottish politics, 1931-64, and its fragmentation into Conser vatism, Liberalism, and Scottish Nationalism. The changed circumstances are not seen as peculiarly Scottish, but the consequences for Scottish Conserv atism of an evolution affecting the centre-right across the United Kingdom.