Cllr Derek Wann is the Deputy Leader of Angus Council
Spend enough time reading post-election analysis and you could be forgiven for thinking Scottish Conservatism is beyond saving. Every setback is portrayed as proof of terminal decline. Every disappointing result is treated as evidence that Conservative politics no longer has a place in Scotland.
The reality is rather different.
If you want proof, look no further than Angus.
The recent Arbroath and Broughty Ferry Westminster by-election was widely expected to become a straight contest between the SNP, Labour and Reform UK. Some commentators predicted the Conservatives would finish third. Others suggested fourth.
That simply didn’t happen.
Jack Cruickshanks secured 4,524 votes, finishing second with around 19 per cent of the vote, narrowly ahead of Reform UK on 4,341 votes and comfortably ahead of Labour on 3,651. The SNP retained the seat with 9,802 votes, but the story was not simply who won. It was who refused to disappear.
This result was not delivered by a huge campaign budget or an army of paid organisers. It was achieved through committed volunteers, targeted campaigning, thousands of voter conversations and effective use of social media. Jack built recognition, engaged directly with residents and demonstrated that authentic campaigning still matters.
Just weeks earlier, Angus MacMillan Douglas produced a respectable Conservative performance in Angus South at the Scottish Parliament election, polling 6,681 votes despite an exceptionally difficult national picture for the party.
Together, these results highlight an important truth: there remains a substantial Conservative vote across Angus.
It may not always be enough to win, but it is certainly not disappearing.
Too often we assume national headlines automatically define local reality. They do not.
People vote for candidates they know, trust and see working in their communities. Local credibility matters. Hard work matters. Community presence matters.
The lesson from Angus is not that everything is fine. Scottish Conservatism undoubtedly faces serious challenges. Reform UK has fragmented parts of the centre-right vote. Labour has become more competitive in some areas. The SNP remains deeply entrenched across much of Scotland.
But challenges are not the same as defeat.
One of the greatest dangers facing our party in Scotland is talking ourselves into decline before the electorate ever does. Constant predictions of Conservative irrelevance damage morale, discourage volunteers and lower expectations before a single leaflet has been delivered.
Politics rarely rewards pessimism.
What Angus demonstrates is that where candidates are visible, work hard and connect with local communities, Conservatives remain competitive.
That should be a source of encouragement.
It also underlines another reality: campaigning has changed.
Traditional leaflets still have their place, but social media allows candidates with modest budgets to reach thousands of voters every day. Authentic videos, regular updates, and genuine engagement increasingly matter as much as expensive literature.
Politics has become more personal.
People want representatives who are visible between elections, not just during them. They want councillors and candidates who answer messages, solve problems and understand the communities they serve.
In many parts of Angus, Conservative councillors continue to do exactly that.
So no, Toryism in Angus is not dead.
It has faced electoral headwinds, national difficulties, and a changing political landscape. Yet beneath the headlines remains a resilient Conservative base, committed activists and candidates capable of outperforming expectations.
The task now is not to dwell on decline. It is to rebuild confidence, modernise campaigning and remind voters why Conservative values still matter to the communities we represent.
Because if Angus proves anything, it is this: reports of Scottish Conservatism’s demise are greatly exaggerated.