'VOTERS in Central Fife can probably walk to their nearest polling station with their eyes closed after eight votes in just five years and although the trip to the polling station might be predictable the way in which Scottish voters mark their ballot paper is anything but.

Never before has British politics been less predictable. No-one, apart from one outlying poll, predicted a hung Parliament and in Scotland swathes of voters have gone from being lifelong Labour to SNP and now to Conservative. The shifting sands of Scottish politics continue to move and the latest election result, last Thursday, proved just how changeable things are in this country.

After the SNP surge in 2015, most political commentators had the SNP pegged down for centuries of unbroken rule but now Nicola Sturgeon and her advisers are facing down the barrel of electoral uncertainty.

With questions over her leadership and that of her husband, the SNP’s chief executive Peter Murrel, the nationalists find themselves with more soul searching than their rivals despite winning the most seats. In just two years nearly 14% of their support has slipped away, and although decreasing returns at the Scottish Parliament and local Government elections pointed to problems, it was difficult to forecast that the SNP would lose 21 seats. Even more depressing for the SNP was that this could have been a whole lot worse. Just 635 votes across Scotland ensured that they kept a majority of seats and here in Fife it was just two votes that kept the Lib Dems from winning Menzies Campbell’s old seat.

However, the big story from last week’s election was the continued resurgence of the Scottish Conservatives. From electoral oblivion we now have 13 MPs, our highest number since 1983, and a 28% share of the vote. In the last three elections we have finished above the Labour Party and are now secure as the most credible opposition to the SNP. In the coming weeks and months, the group of 13 will be sure to make their collective voices heard at Westminster, truly standing up for Scotland.

In Fife the Conservative resurgence continued. However, we are not blind to the fact that many new Scottish Conservative voters placed their cross on the ballot paper with some reservations. We understand that their support is not unconditional and we will work hard to put across positions and policies that everyone can get behind. There is a change in the air in Scottish politics and it is good that the Scottish Conservatives are on the right side of this change'.

As ever Murdo Fraser MSP welcomes the feedback of constituents and can be contacted at 31 Canmore Street, Dunfermline, or via telephone at 01383 720 530 or via email at Murdo.Fraser.msp@parliament.scot