Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Tories, distinguished herself during the referendum campaign but there were signs yesterday she was getting a little carried away.

Speaking at the Conservative conference, she claimed her party, who were on the winning No side, had represented Scotland's silent majority.

Her words echoed those of David Cameron who told Scottish Tories on Monday night that the party could increase the number of Scottish MPs by targeting areas that voted No.

It is true that the extent to which Scottish voters support a strongly leftwing agenda is sometimes overstated. Indeed, in spite of the sometimes radically left-wing mood music emanating from the Yes campaign during the referendum, the businessfriendly, low-tax SNP has certainly not won support in Holyrood at two successive elections by espousing socialist policies.

Even so, broadly speaking, the centre of gravity in Scottish politics is further to the left than in England. That being so, Ms Davidson and Mr Cameron are probably indulging in wishful thinking if they believe the No vote marks the beginning of a major Scottish Tory resurgence. The campaign's success cannot be taken as an endorsement of the Conservatives. Many voters chose No, not because they rejected a progressive left-leaning agenda, but rather because they seriously doubted that such an agenda could be delivered under independence. Ms Davidson's promise, once greater powers for Holyrood have been agreed, to look at keeping taxes low, may not prove to be the vote-winner she imagines if public services are creaking at the seams.

The Scottish Tories have not always been well served in recent weeks by their Westminster colleagues. While the Scottish party deserves credit for recognising the demand for much enhanced devolution, and has put forward radical proposals for it, the Conservatives at Westminster have often seemed to lack comprehension of the impact in Scotland of their actions. David Cameron's decision to promise English votes for English laws the morning after the referendum was made with little apparent thought to Scottish concerns about the danger of Scotland's voice at Westminster being drowned out. Gordon Brown yesterday launched a plan for new devolved powers that includes handing over control of most but not all of income tax - a move that falls short of what many Scots, and this newspaper, believe is required, but which he argues for on the basis it would avoid "the Tory trap that would end income tax as a shared tax and threaten to reduce the rights of Scottish representatives at Westminster on budget tax decisions".

A fair solution to the West Lothian Question must be found, but one that does not result in Scottish MPs having second-class status. Eric Pickles's description of "platinum-card wielding Scottish MPs" who have it all at Westminster, was not only unfair but hopelessly simplistic.

Ruth Davidson hopes that being on the winning side in the referendum will boost her party's fortunes, but her colleagues with their ill-judged interventions risk undermining any such advantage.