In Scotland, the Scottish National party, which has been in power for 14 years, increased its representation in Holyrood. Had he refused to make direct contact, the prime minister would have looked like he could not come to terms with his opponents’ success. Mr Drakeford wants to embed the devolution settlement so it cannot be “pulled back by the whim of a prime minister”. One might have thought that Conservative success in local elections would have whetted Mr Johnson’s appetite for more local government. But to save the union he professes to cherish, the prime minister should put national interest before party self-interest.

Source: The Guardian May 10, 2021 18:26 UTC