Local backing for Ross Tory leadership bid
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MORAY MP Douglas Ross's bid for the leadership of the Scottish Conservatives has been backed by a local councillor and MSP.
Mr Ross becomes the first candidate to put his name forward for the post after the shock resignation of the previous leader, Jackson Carlaw MSP.
His candidacy for the leadership was quickly endorsed by Fochabers-Lhanbryde councillor Marc Macrae, who is also the vice-chairman of Moray Conservatives, and Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston.
Councillor Macrae said: ""I was delighted to learn that my friend and colleague Douglas Ross MP is standing to be the next leader of the Scottish Conservatives.
"As his election agent in 2016/17 and 2019 I am well aware of the huge amount of work he has done representing Moray, first in Moray Council, then at Holyrood and now in Westminster. As the vice-chairman of the Moray Conservatives I look forward to campaigning alongside Douglas.
"His passion and commitment to Moray and Scotland is second to none and I know that he is the person to take the fight directly to the Scottish Government and hold them firmly to account for their failings.
"He has my nomination as the candidate to lead the party to success."
Mr Halcro Johnston, the Tories' Shadow Education Minister at Holyrood said Mr Ross would refocus Scottish politics on the issues which matter to the public, accusing the current Scottish Government of being “out of ideas”.
“Douglas Ross has a record of successfully taking on the SNP in the Highlands and Islands, in Holyrood and in the House of Commons," he continued.
“And come next May, Douglas and the Scottish Conservatives can lead the campaign to kick out this tired SNP Government, ending the nationalist-led obsession about the constitution and refocusing Scottish politics back on to the issues that really matter to local people - education, the economy and jobs, and healthcare.
“It will also be great to see someone from the Highlands and Islands leading the party; someone with the knowledge and experience of the particular issues that really matter to all of us who live and work up here.
“I believe that electing Douglas – to work with Ruth Davidson in holding the SNP to account in Holyrood – can be a game-changer in challenging an SNP government which has run out of ideas and is fast running out of time”.
If Mr Ross becomes the leader he will stand for election as an MSP at the Holyrood elections in May next year.
In the meantime, Ruth Davidson has agreed to stand in for him at First Ministers Questions.
Announcing his leadership bid, Mr Ross said: "This is a crucial time in Scottish politics. We are months away from an important election, and need strong, decisive leadership of our party to take on and defeat the SNP in seats right across the country.
"My message to voters across Scotland will be this: if you want to build a better Scotland, if you want to beat the SNP, and if you want to put the divisions of the past few years behind us, the party I plan to lead is one you can unite behind, and one that can win.
He added: "I want us to show clearly to everyone in Scotland, no matter where they live or who they are, that if they want to move on from the divisions of the past and focus on the issues that really matter; a strong economy, good schools, safe streets and a world-leading NHS then the Scottish Conservatives will be their voice.
"Scotland is an integral part of the United Kingdom and that’s a relationship I want to maintain and improve. Under my leadership, this will be an absolute priority."
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