Nominations set to close in Scottish Conservative leadership contest

Nominations for the Scottish Conservative leadership close at noon on Thursday.

Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Jamie Greene, Russell Findlay, and Liam Kerr have all entered the race to replace Douglas Ross at the helm of the party.

Brian Whittle, who has been MSP for South Scotland since 2016, pulled out of the contest on Tuesday and endorsed Fraser.

All those running for the post are required first to secure the support of at least 100 party members. A ballot will then take place, with the new leader due to be announced on Friday, September 27.

The contest was sparked when Ross announced plans to quit as Tory leader during this summer’s General Election campaign.

It was his treatment of former MP David Duguid that eventually led to his downfall, with some in the Tory ranks briefing against him after he announced he would be the Conservative candidate in the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat instead of Duguid, who was barred by party chiefs due to ill health.

Ross lost his bid for a Westminster seat in the July 4 poll as he was beaten by SNP candidate Seamus Logan, who won 13,455 votes to Ross’s 12,513.

The Tory leadership content to appoint his successor has grown increasingly toxic, having been marred by infighting and resignations.

Gallacher stood down as the party’s deputy leader last week amid concerns the contest could be at risk following reports about Ross’ alleged conduct during the election.

In a statement on social media site X, Gallacher said she was “deeply troubled” by reports in the Telegraph that Ross allegedly asked Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey Tory candidate Kathleen Robertson if he could replace her in July 2023 – a claim he has denied.

The newspaper alleges Ross told Robertson that his “heart was in Westminster, not Holyrood”, but it is claimed she refused the request to stand aside despite being promised selection as a Holyrood candidate in 2026.

The Telegraph also reported Ross told her he would prefer leadership candidate Findlay to replace him.

That report led to four candidates – Fraser, Whittle, Kerr and Greene – expressing “deep concern” at the alleged conduct of the current party leader.

A preferential voting system will used to select the winner of the contest, with members ranking their chosen candidates in order of preference.

When the votes are counted the lowest ranking candidate will be eliminated, with their first preference votes redistributed until one candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast.