Nominations for candidates to become the next leader of the Scottish Conservatives has formally opened.
The race is on to replace Douglas Ross, the Highlands and Islands MSP who has led the party since 2020 when he took over from Jackson Carlaw.
He announced his resignation on June 1 following a row over his decision to contest the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat at the General Election.
The party’s campaign saw the number of Scottish Tory MPs fall to five, with Ross failing to win the seat he had been contesting at Westminster.
STV NewsSenior Scottish Tory MSP Murdo Fraser is the latest to announce his bid for the Tory leadership, claiming members have been “let down” by bosses north and south of the border.
Russell Findlay, deputy leader Meghan Gallacher, Brian Whittle, Liam Kerr and Jamie Greene have all also thrown their hats in the ring to replace Ross.
Nominations for candidates to succeed Ross formally open on Thursday, August 8, and will close two weeks later on Thursday, August 22, at 12pm.
Chosen via a preferential voting system, the new leader of the party will be unveiled on September 27.
All those running will have to get the backing of 100 party members before they can stand, and hustings – including a national digital event – will take place across the country.
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.
Russell Findlay
Https://www.russellfindlay.org.uk/Russell Findlay has been one of the biggest names touted as a potential successor to Douglas Ross.
He was previously a journalist at STV News, the Scottish Sun and the Sunday Mail.
He was elected as an MSP for West Scotland in 2021 and served as the justice spokesperson for his party.
He has spoken out about his own experience of the justice system after he was the victim of an acid attack in 2015.
He has been a keen critic of the Scottish Government, making passionate speeches in Holyrood and has railed against the SNP’s gender reforms and hate crime act.
Murdo Fraser
Murdo FraserMurdo Fraser is one of the Conservative Party’s longest-serving MSPs, having been at Holyrood since 2001.
This isn’t the first time he has run for the leadership.
He went up against Rush Davidson in 2011 and lost.
Back then, he called for the Scottish Tories to split from the UK party.
He also served as the party’s deputy leader between 2005 and 2011.
Meghan Gallacher
Https://www.meghangallacher.uk/Meghan Gallacher was first elected in 2021 and has since ascended the ranks to become the party’s deputy leader.
A Central Scotland MSP, she has been critical of the Scottish Government’s gender reforms.
She was previously a councillor in North Lanarkshire.
While some may see the 32-year-old as a rising star within the party, it’s thought others might think she is not ready for the role.
Jamie Greene
Jamie Greene MSP FacebookJamie Greene has been an MSP for the West Scotland region since 2016 and has previously held roles as justice and education spokesperson.
He is considered to be on the more socially liberal side of the Tories.
He supported the Scottish Government’s controversial gender reforms and has since said that decision likely cost him his job as justice spokesperson.
That job was handed to Russell Findlay, a strong critic of the bill.
Liam Kerr
Liam Kerr MSPLiam Kerr is the Tory’s shadow education secretary, having previously holding the roles of energy and justice spokesperson.
He became an MSP for North East Scotland in 2016 and served as the deputy leader between 2019 and 2020.
Kerr previously worked as an employment lawyer. He has held director roles at two charities in the north east, and also studied an MBA through the Open University, gaining a postgraduate diploma in business administration.
Brian Whittle
Https://www.brianwhittle.org.uk/about-brian-whittleBrian Whittle has been an MSP for the South Scotland region since 2016 and is a former Olympian sprinter.
He was elected as the party’s spokesperson for the environment, biodiversity and land reform in 2021 and public health, mental health, wellbeing and sport in 2016.
Following a reshuffle in June 2023, he was made shadow deputy spokesperson for business, economic growth and tourism.
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