Scottish Conservative Leadership Showdown: Findlay, Fraser, and Gallacher Vie to Succeed Douglas Ross

Scottish Tories' leadership contest: Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, and Meghan Gallacher vie to succeed Douglas Ross

Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, and Meghan Gallacher have each gathered the necessary 100 nominations from party members, outpacing their Scottish Conservative colleagues Brian Whittle, Liam Kerr, and Jamie Greene in the race.

Scotland correspondent @Jenster13

Thursday, August 22, 2024, 3:

Three Members of the Scottish Parliament are set to compete in the race for the leadership of the Scottish Conservative Party.

Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, and Meghan Gallacher have advanced to a membership-wide vote to decide who will succeed the departing leader, Douglas Ross.

The group successfully gathered the necessary 100 endorsements from members and surpassed fellow MSPs Brian Whittle, Liam Kerr, and Jamie Greene in the contest.

Mr. Whittle, Mr. Kerr, and Mr. Greene have withdrawn from the competition and are now endorsing Mr. Fraser.

At his campaign kickoff in Perth on Thursday, Mr. Fraser urged Mr. Findlay and Ms. Gallacher to withdraw from the race and support his leadership bid, effectively endorsing him as the leader.

In his reply, Mr. Findlay stated that he has consistently been "against the idea of a coronation, for himself or for anyone else."

He stated: "The selection of our next leader should be in the hands of our members, not a select few at Holyrood."

The deadline for nominations ended at 12 PM on August 22, and the voting period is scheduled from September 4 to September 26.

A number of public meetings are scheduled to take place nationwide, with the victor anticipated to be declared on September 27, ahead of the UK Conservative Party's announcement of Rishi Sunak's successor on November 2.

Craig Hoy MSP, the chairman of the party, extended his congratulations to everyone who advanced to the subsequent round.

He stated, "We are eager to see a transparent competition among the three candidates, allowing them to present their strategies and visions during the upcoming hustings events across Scotland in the next few weeks."

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Name: Russell Find

Since 2021, Mr. Findlay has served as the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for West Scotland and holds the role of justice spokesperson for his party at Holy

He has held journalism positions at STV News, the Scottish Sun, and the Sunday Mail.

His inquiry into Margaret Fleming's vanishing played a role in bringing her murderers to justice.

Renowned for his crime writing, particularly on gang violence, author Mr. Findlay suffered an acid attack in 2015, after a perpetrator posing as a postman confronted him at his home.

In 2017, the assailant received a total extended sentence of 15 years, consisting of a decade behind bars followed by five years of supervised release into society.

Mr. Findlay has outlined plans to cut taxes, revamp the school curriculum, and decrease bureaucratic hurdles for companies.

At his campaign kickoff this week, he declared that there would be "no split, no separation" from the UK Conservatives, emphasizing that the party must seek a new direction beyond the ongoing debate over Scottish independence.

He stated: "With me at the helm, the Scottish Conservatives will represent the core of Scotland once more, a group that has been overlooked and sidelined throughout almost twenty years of disappointing governance by the SNP.

"You're familiar with the Scotland I'm talking about because you also reside there. It's the reality beyond the political sphere."

He stated that the party no longer possesses the dynamic energy it had during Ruth Davidson's leadership and emphasized the need to reintroduce a sense of optimism, positivity, and hope.

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Murdo Fraser

At 58 years old, Mr. Fraser holds the record as the most tenured Scottish Conservative MSP, having served the Mid Scotland and Fife area since 2001.

He formerly held the position of deputy leader of the party and currently serves as the shadow cabinet secretary for business, economic development, and tourism.

In 2011, Mr. Fraser competed for the leadership of the Scottish Conservatives, aiming to succeed Annabel Goldie, but Ruth Davidson ultimately won the position.

At the outset of his campaign, Mr. Fraser positioned himself as the agent of change, echoing a sentiment from Kate Forbes's campaign for SNP leadership with the phrase, "continuity won't cut it."

He stated, "The recent weeks have been tremendously challenging for our party. We observed a significant decline in our vote percentage during the last general election, reaching the lowest level in our party's history."

So far, the leadership race has been marked by discord, with ongoing anonymous attacks targeting various candidates, myself and my fellow contenders included.

"Alarming allegations have surfaced regarding the Scottish leader's involvement in meddling with the selection process of at least two candidates."

Recent events have clearly shown that significant reform is essential for the survival of our party.

"For far too long, this party has allowed excessive power to be held by a select few, and the consequences are now apparent. This must change immediately."

Mr. Fraser has committed to establishing an independent commission to review the organization of the Scottish Conservatives should he secure the leadership position.

In his earlier campaign, he proposed separating from the Conservative Party in the southern regions, but he has recently stated that his opinion on the matter has evolved.

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Meghan Gallacher

At 32 years old, Ms. Gallacher previously served as a councillor in North Lanarkshire and has represented Central Scotland as an MSP since 2021.

She was formerly the deputy leader of her party until she resigned abruptly last week following allegations concerning Mr. Ross's behavior during the general election, which he has vehemently denied.

During her announcement to enter the leadership race, Ms. Gallacher described the competition as a chance for the party to "start anew."

She unveiled her strategy to create a "contemporary, center-right party," centered on reducing taxes, promoting home ownership, backing families, and safeguarding "rights and freedoms."

She stated: "We require a leader capable of unifying the party and appealing to individuals who have previously not considered voting for the Scottish Conservatives. I possess the necessary experience to achieve this."

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The MSP referenced her tenure as a council member, noting she collaborated with individuals from various political backgrounds to prioritize community welfare.

Promoting herself as an energetic, innovative, and youthful leader, Ms. Gallacher stated that she would bring about "a fresh start for the Scottish Conservatives."

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