Tory MSP Maurice Golden says he couldn't stand for 'shambolic' party at next election

A Scottish Tory MSP has said he “couldn’t stand” at the next election because the party’s manifesto is likely to contain things he “fundamentally disagrees” with.

Maurice Golden said he suspects the party’s upcoming Holyrood manifesto will say things he would “struggle” to support.

After ten years as a front-line Tory politician at Holyrood, Golden announced in April that he would not run for re-election next year.

Since then, he said he’s had offers to join “every other party”, except Greens and Reform.

“I think [the Tory party] has moved so far away from where I started. It’s like a different era from 2021,” the North East MSP told the Holyrood Sources Podcast.

“You look at the press releases, everything’s shambolic, shameful, and ultimately that’s then mirrored by other parties, and you end up in a zero-sum game.”

The MSP added: “I think it’s deliberate and I think it’s legitimate.

“I disagree with it and, hand on heart… I couldn’t stand as a candidate for the Conservatives at the election next year.

“I haven’t seen the manifesto, but I suspect the manifesto will say things that I fundamentally disagree with and are fundamentally different from our 2021 manifesto.

“It’s not a problem I’m going to have to face, but I would really struggle to do that – and that’s someone who’s been a party member for 25 years and stood in seven elections over decades. So that’s quite a departure.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Tories said: “The Scottish Conservatives will continue to stand up for hard-working Scots who are being failed by the SNP and Labour governments.

“Economic growth must be the top priority for both governments if we are to fix Scotland’s public services.”