Margaret Thatcher tried out her hated poll tax there and that, plus the impact of privatisation and union-bashing on Scotland's industrial economy, turned off voters north of the border.

ECONOMIST: The Tories flirt with a growing English nationalism

The union-bashing option should not be taken lightly.

ECONOMIST: Union-bash or bust? | The

When the Tories talked about labour-market flexibility they often meant deregulation: union bashing, cutting back on employees' rights and so forth.

ECONOMIST: The long honeymoon | The