Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson believes the independence referendum has “smashed” the status quo and sent a “tremor” through politics which will last a lifetime.
She received a hero’s welcome at the Tory conference in Birmingham yesterday, with many supporters delighted with her high-profile role in saving the Union.
Delegates gave Ms Davidson a standing ovation when she arrived in the hall to give her speech yesterday, and Prime Minister David Cameron gave her a thumb’s up at the end.
She told the conference that more powers would need to be delivered to Scotland to ensure the Union was never again in “such peril in my lifetime”.
“This referendum sent a tremor through the fabric of this nation and the echoes of that tremor will last a lifetime,” she said.
“We have to address the fact that – Yes or No – people in Scotland want change. The status quo is smashed, there’s no going back, and the old rules do not apply.
“And that is a challenge. But it is an opportunity too. A chance to shape a new Union. To craft and hew a settlement that fits the age and meets our ambitions.”
The Tory MSP warned that nationalists wanted to lock Scotland “in a cycle of neverendum”, with another constitutional vote within years.
She said: “We know that only by changing the way we do politics, only by making the Scottish Government look taxpayers in the eye, taking away the grudge and grievance, removing the fantasy economics, only then can we guard against us being back here again.
“And I never want to see our Union in such peril in my lifetime.”
Ms Davidson hailed Tory voters in the north and north-east for helping deliver the 55%-45% rejection of independence.
“Scottish Conservatives stood tall in this debate. We made the arguments of the heart, as well as the head,” she said.
“We took the fight to the SNP in the SNP’s back yard. In Angus, in Perthshire, in Moray, in Aberdeenshire it was Conservatives in the lead – and in our border lands too.
“It is no coincidence that these areas returned a resounding vote for our United Kingdom.”
Scotland Office Minister David Mundell had earlier praised Ms Davidson’s role in the campaign.
“Make no mistake – Ruth has been a game changer and the true champion for Scotland’s interests in this debate,” he said.
“No one individual has done more or spoken up louder for our country or our party in this debate. And for that we owe Ruth a great debt of gratitude.”