Lord Lexden explained the constitutional crisis that is likely to confront us—and the Consevative Party’s failure to face up to it -- in a letter published in the issue The Spectator dated March 7.
Sir:
I share Alex Massie’s view that ‘this election is going to be a disaster’ for us unionists (‘ Divided we fall’, 28 February). It is almost too painful to recall that it will mark the 60th anniversary of a great victory in May 1955 when the Tories, standing as Scottish Unionists, won more seats north of the border than their opponents and helped give Anthony Eden a secure majority. Under the baleful influence of George Osborne who could not care less about the constitution, there seems little chance that the Tories will at last redeem themselves by proposing the one remaining policy that could save the union: a new constitutional settlement for the UK based on the federal model. Osborne’s Tories are wholly preoccupied with their so-called long-term economic plan. A genuine long-term plan for the constitution ought to be the overriding priority.
Alistair Lexden
House of Lords