UK North - South Divide

[DC Al Fine]

I think the north south divide is only useful in terms of England. Scotland which has an economic output comparable to the 'south' has it's own internal divides.

Indeed. Scotland has the Scottish National Party, which mucks up comparisons between Scottish and English politics.

However to answer your question, I think the Tories are definitely much weaker in the "North" than they used to be. In Scotland for example, they used to have respectable share of the vote and seats. I think they only have one seat in the whole of Scotland now, and they form government!

[DC Al Fine]

I post on a board with a high number of British posters, and one thing that's pointed out by a few is how if Scotland actually did become independent, the Labour electoral map toward victory becomes completely screwed because Labour are the nationally dominant party there (so far people haven't voted SNP en masse to Westminster) and the Conservatives don't exist in Scotland outside of the Borders. So Scottish independence means Labour would have to become more competitive in the South as far as their policies if they wanted to take power again.

The last time Labour won in 2005, they would've still won a majority government even without Scotland.

Yes, there is an anti-Labour shift if you remove Scotland, but it isn't that big.  In both 2005 and 2010 Labour's lead over all other parties in terms of Scottish seats was 23; it might be a bit higher next time but it's not likely to be more than 40, so if Labour can do well enough to get a majority of 40 or so in the whole UK (i.e. a useful but not overwhelming majority) they'd still have done well enough to get a majority without Scotland.

Why is Labour's vote so efficient?