Brian WhittleBrian Whittle MSP has pulled out of the Scottish Conservative leadership contest.
Mr Whittle, the current MSP for South Scotland, announced on X that he had pulled out of the contest to replace Douglas Ross, the current Scottish Tory leader.
He says he will now support Murdo Fraser, who is up against competition from colleagues Meghan Gallacher, Jamie Greene, Russell Findlay, and Liam Kerr.
In a statement, Mr Whittle said he had entered the leadership contest as he believes his party needs a “new approach” to how it operates, and is grateful for the support he has received throughout his Whittle2Win campaign, but is now stepping down.
He wrote: “However, I have decided to suspend my campaign and withdraw from consideration.
“Any leadership contest worthy of the name will inevitably involve disagreements among candidates and members. It’s unfortunate that some, both in the press and in the party, have seen that natural disagreement as a personal affront.
“The question for me and every other member now, is simple. Which of the remaining candidates is best places to unite the membership behind them, harness their talents, and turn the Scottish Conservatives into a party that meets the needs of its member and, crucially, Scotland’s voters.
“For me, I believe that person is Murdo Fraser. He has recognised the scale of the change that is needed and represent[s] the genuine change of approach that we need to win.
“I look forward to supporting him as the campaign continues.”
“Despite that, I am confident that this party has the ideas and the ability to grow and win in Scotland if it is willing to accept, as most of the candidates have, that it must change to offer Scotland’s voters a credible centre-right alternative.”
Responding to the announcement, Murdo Fraser said: “I am sorry to see my great friend Brian Whittle withdrawing from the Scottish Conservative leadership contest.
“Brian brought forward some innovative ideas to the leadership debate on leadership and policy, and his contribution as a MSP is and continues to be significant.
“I am honoured and humbled by his kind words about me and his support. As the candidate with the broadest range of experience and history in the Party, he believes I am best placed to deliver real change and unite us going forward. I aim to live up to those expectations.”
Douglas Ross stood down as the Scottish Conservative leader just before his manifesto launch after fallout from his decision to replace David Duguid in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, despite previously saying he would focus on Holyrood.
The party said Duguid was too sick to stand, a claim the former MP denies. Ross ultimately lost the seat to the SNP.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
