'Unholy alliance' pays dividends

Andrew Black Political reporter, BBC Scotland news website

When Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie ruled out any coalition deal at the start of last year's Holyrood election campaign, some wondered whether she had lost the plot.

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Nailing her colours firmly to the mast before any other party had unveiled its manifesto was a bold move.

But, a year after voters went to the polls, Holyrood's third-largest party can claim to have won major concessions from the Scottish Government.

At the same time, the Scottish Conservatives dismissed Labour and Liberal Democrat criticism that the country's most staunchly pro-Union party had got into bed with its rival and formed an unholy alliance.

The Tories returned to the new-look Scottish Parliament with one less MSP than before - and lost another when Alex Fergusson gave up his party to become Holyrood presiding officer.

Despite achievements at Holyrood, long-term questions remain for the Scottish Conservative Party

But there were successes, including snatching the Roxburgh and Berwickshire seat from the Lib Dems and former party leader David McLetchie increasing his hold on the former Labour seat of Edinburgh Pentlands.

Taking the opportunity to do business with a minority government in need of support, the Tories supported its budget in return for ministers' agreement to a new drugs strategy, speedier cuts in business rates and boosting police recruitment - although the latter was an issue seized on by all opposition parties.

But the air of consensus wafting around the Cannongate, did not stop the Tories from causing a headache for the government by voting down its plans to extend electronic tagging for prisoners at the committee stage and - in a similar vein - branding ministers' plans to expand non-custodial sentences "convicts in the community".

Bad memories

The Conservatives also backed the Calman Commission to review devolution - a body which is not looking at the issue of Scottish independence.

And, proving no politician can be gaffe-free, the party's Rangers-supporting deputy leader Murdo Fraser was forced to temper his language after saying a decision to deploy riot police as football fans and officers clashed in Manchester during the Uefa Cup final was an over-reaction.

Mr Fraser's plea in mitigation was that his comments were amended after watching CCTV footage of the violent scenes.

Despite achievements at Holyrood, long-term questions remain for the Scottish Conservative Party.

Will the UK party's success in the English regional elections and the so-called "David Cameron bounce" be able to hop north of the border - or are the memories of policies such as the poll tax still too ingrained?

That said, the last Conservative government was in power at a time when Labour had spent decades dominating Scottish politics - a situation ended by the SNP.

In a time of unprecedented change on the Scottish political landscape, perhaps anything is possible.

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