Declaration of Perth 40th anniversary

This week sees 40 years since the then Conservative Leader Ted Heath made his so-called 'Declaration of Perth', committing his party to the creation of a devolved Scottish Assembly.

Four decades on and that Assembly, or Parliament, is a reality and the Scottish Tory Party (which lost its old 'Unionist' name just before Heath was elected leader) meets for its annual conference in Ayr this weekend; reconstructed as a party of devolution and, indeed, supporters of greater powers under the guidance of the Calman Commission.

You can read my article on Heath's speech, and its ramifications, in today's Scotsman.