While we wait to hear if the recent coupling (conscious or unconscious) by the Pandas in Edinburgh Zoo will result in a pregnancy for Tian Tian, we can follow their progress on this website or listen to the TianTian the Panda update each evening on BBC Radio 4 PM. However there is currently no prospect of the Pandas being overtaken in numerical terms by Conservative MPs in Scotland until 2015 when we have the General Election by which stage there may in any case be more than two Pandas in Scotland. All of that information whilst accurate is entirely predictable. What is not as predictable is that with just over a year to go to the General Election in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland is that despite finding candidates for many of the English and Welsh Seats for the contest, that according to this mornings Independent, the Party have yet to choose a single candidate for any of the Scottish constituencies.

The disastrous effort by David Cameron and his Cabinet to meet in Scotland a few weeks ago, but to do so behind closed doors when 5 miles away Alex Salmond was meeting with his Cabinet in public shows how much work is needs to be done by the party. However because David Cameron has refused to participate in any meaningful way in the Independence debate, he needs to work hard to show that the Tories are not giving up on Scotland. He needs to do that for the sake of the Party, but he also needs to do that for the sake of the Union. Parliamentary Candidates are not like MPs but they do get the opportunity to meet with residents and explain what their vision is for a locality and how they will make a difference if elected. If the Party is unable to do that nationally, surely it would be a good move for them to encourage the local groups to put in place good communicators who could attempt to win hearts and minds more locally. Surely nothing will send a message of disinterest to Scottish voters stronger than a lack of chosen candidates for the 2015 General Election?

The same picture appears to be true in large swathes of Northern England, but hopefully this is not intended to show the residents of Northern Cities that the Party has given up on them too?