Scottish Conservatives leadership race: Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser and Meghan Gallacher in running to replace Douglas Ross
Three MSPs will battle it out in the Scottish Tory leadership race.
Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser and Meghan Gallacher will now proceed to a ballot of the party’s membership to determine who will replace outgoing leader Douglas Ross.
The trio secured the 100 nominations required from members and saw off competition from fellow MSPs Brian Whittle, Liam Kerr and Jamie Greene.
Mr Whittle, Mr Kerr and Mr Greene dropped out of the race and have thrown their support behind Mr Fraser.
Mr Fraser with supporters at his leadership campaign launch. Pic: PA
During his official campaign launch in Perth earlier on Thursday, Mr Fraser called on Mr Findlay and Ms Gallacher to drop their bids and join his team – essentially coronating him as leader.
In response, Mr Findlay said he’s always been “opposed to a coronation, of myself or anyone else”.
He added: “Our members should decide the next leader. Not any small group of people at Holyrood.”
Mr Findlay with supporters at his leadership campaign launch. Pic: Dave Johnson
The nomination stage closed at noon on 22 August, with voting due to take place between 4-26 September.
A series of hustings will now be held across the country, with a winner expected to be announced on 27 September – before the UK Conservative Party reveals Rishi Sunak’s successor on 2 November.
Craig Hoy MSP, the party’s chairman, congratulated all those who made the next round.
He added: “We now look forward to an open contest between the three candidates, giving them the opportunity to outline their vision and policies at hustings events to be held up and down Scotland over the coming weeks.”
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Russell Findlay
Mr Findlay. Pic: Dave Johnson
Mr Findlay has been the MSP for West Scotland since 2021 and is the party’s justice spokesperson at Holyrood.
He has worked as a journalist for STV News, the Scottish Sun and the Sunday Mail.
His investigation into the disappearance of Margaret Fleming was used to help prosecute her killers.
As an author, Mr Findlay has written books on gangland crime and was the victim of an acid attack in 2015 when an assailant appeared on his doorstep disguised as a postman.
In 2017, the attacker was handed a 15-year extended sentence, with 10 years in jail and five years on licence once released back into the community.
Mr Findlay has set out policies on lowering tax, overhauling the education curriculum, and reducing red tape for businesses.
During his campaign launch earlier this week, he said there would be “no split, no separation” with the UK Conservatives and argued the party has to find new purpose beyond the constitutional argument around Scottish independence.
He said: “Under my leadership, the Scottish Conservatives will once again speak for mainstream Scotland which has been neglected and marginalised during nearly two decades of miserable SNP rule.
“You know the Scotland I mean because you live in it too. It’s the world outside the political bubble.”
He said the party has lost the “mojo” of the Ruth Davidson era and said it is time to “bring back some sunshine, positivity and hope”.
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Murdo Fraser
Mr Fraser. Pic: PA
Mr Fraser, 58, is the longest-serving Scottish Tory MSP and has represented the Mid Scotland and Fife region since 2001.
He has previously served as deputy leader of the party and is currently the shadow cabinet secretary for business, economic growth and tourism.
Mr Fraser ran to lead the Scottish Tories in 2011 to replace Annabel Goldie but lost out to Ruth Davidson.
During his campaign launch, Mr Fraser pitched himself as the candidate for change, borrowing a phrase from Kate Forbes’s SNP leadership bid – “continuity won’t cut it”.
He said: “These last few weeks have been immensely difficult for our party. Just last month we saw a general election where our vote share slumped to the lowest it has ever been in our party’s history.
“We have seen a fractious leadership contest so far, with persistent anonymous briefings against candidates, including me and my colleagues here.
“We have also seen concerning claims being raised about the conduct of the Scottish leader in relation to interference in at least two candidate selections.
“The last few weeks have proven that real change is an absolute necessity. It is a matter of survival for our party.
“For too long in this party we have had too much power concentrated in too few hands, and now we see the effects of that. That has to change now.”
Mr Fraser has pledged to hold an independent commission on the structure of the Scottish Tories if he wins the leadership.
During his previous bid, he suggested a split from the Tories south of the border but has since said his view on that has changed.
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Meghan Gallacher
Ms Gallacher. Pic: PA
Ms Gallacher, 32, is a former North Lanarkshire councillor and has been the MSP for Central Scotland since 2021.
She recently served as the party’s deputy leader, but dramatically quit last week amid reports over the alleged conduct of Mr Ross around the general election – allegations he has strongly denied.
When announcing her leadership bid, Ms Gallacher said the contest presents the party with the “opportunity for a reset”.
She announced plans to build a “modern, centre-right party” with policies focusing on low taxes, property ownership, supporting families and protecting “rights and liberties”.
She added: “We need someone who can unite the party, who can reach out to people who have never thought of voting Scottish Conservatives before. I have the experience to do just that.”
The MSP cited her time as a councillor, saying she worked with people across the political divide “in the best interests of our communities”.
Pitching herself as a “bold, dynamic and fresh-faced” leader, Ms Gallacher said she would deliver “a new beginning for the Scottish Conservatives”.
Metropolitan Police is to stop investigating “non-crime hate incidents” to “reduce ambiguity” after prosecutors dropped a case against Graham Linehan.
Linehan, 57, will face no further action after being arrested over his social media posts about transgender people.
The Father Ted and IT Crowd creator said his lawyers had been told the case wouldn’t proceed. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the move.
Linehan, 57, was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence when he landed at Heathrow from his home in the US on 1 September.
The incident drew criticism of the police and government from some politicians and free-speech campaigners.
Met Police said today it would stop investigating “non-crime hate incidents” to “reduce ambiguity” and “provide clearer direction for officers”.
Posting on X, Linehan announced : “After a successful hearing to get my bail conditions lifted (one which the police officer in charge of the case didn’t even bother to attend) the Crown Prosecution Service has dropped the case.
“With the aid of the Free Speech Union, I still aim to hold the police accountable for what is only the latest attempt to silence and suppress gender critical voices on behalf of dangerous and disturbed men.”
The union said it had hired a “top flight team of lawyers to sue the Met for wrongful arrest, among other things”.
“The police need to be taught a lesson that they cannot allow themselves to be continually manipulated by woke activists,” it added.
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson confirmed it had reviewed the case file and decided “no further action” would be taken.
Linehan said he had to be taken to hospital on the day of his arrest. Pic: PA
In one of his posts, Linehan wrote: “If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.”
Another was a photo of a trans-rights protest, with the comment “a photo you can smell”, and a follow-up post saying: “I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** em”.
A Met Police statement after the case was dropped acknowledged “concern” around Linehan’s arrest.
It added: “The commissioner has been clear he doesn’t believe officers should be policing toxic culture war debates, with current laws and rules on inciting violence online leaving them in an impossible position.
“As a result, the Met will no longer investigate non-crime hate incidents.
“We believe this will provide clearer direction for officers, reduce ambiguity and enable them to focus on matters that meet the threshold for criminal investigations.”
Linehan said on his blog that he was arrested by five armed officers and had to go to A&E after his blood pressure reached “stroke territory” during his interrogation.
Police said the officers’ guns were never drawn and were only present as Linehan was detained by the aviation unit, which routinely carries firearms.
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JK Rowling, who’s regularly shared her views on women’s rights in relation to transgender rights, was among those who had criticised the arrest, calling it “utterly deplorable”.
Reform’s Nigel Farage, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, and ex-foreign secretary Sir James Cleverly also hit out at the treatment of Linehan.
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The son of former England footballer Stuart Pearce has died in a crash, his family has said.
Harley Pearce, from Marlborough in Wiltshire, was driving a tractor near Witcombe, Gloucestershire, on Thursday, when he was involved in a collision, police said.
The 21-year-old farming worker died at the scene, on the A417 Old Birdlip Hill in Witcombe, around five miles from Gloucester.
No other vehicles were involved, Gloucestershire Constabulary said. Emergency services were called to the scene of the incident at about 2.30pm on October 16.
Stuart Pearce at last year’s FA Cup Final at Wembley. Pic: PA
Harley Pearce was 21 and worked in farming, according to reports.
‘Our shining star’
In a tribute posted on Facebook, Harley sister, Chelsea Pearce, said the family was “truly shocked and utterly heartbroken at the loss of our cherished son and devoted brother, Harley”.
He was, the family said, was a soul “who left an unforgettable imprint on all who knew him”.
“He was a golden boy with an infectious smile, and this shocking tragedy will leave a huge hole in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to have known him.”
He had “a quiet, understated strength and deep kindness”.
The family said they were “so proud of the young man he had become, exhibiting a wonderful work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit in the farming industry.
“He will always be our shining star. Rest in Peace, our beautiful son and brother. You will never, ever be forgotten.”
What have police said?
Harley ran his own company, Harley Pearce Agricultural Service, talkSPORT said.
Gloucestershire Constabulary said on Thursday: “The driver of the tractor, a man in his 20s and from Wiltshire, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“His next of kin are aware and being supported by specially trained officers.”
The force is appealing for any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to contact them.
‘Tragic news’
Harley’s father, Stuart Pearce, played 78 times for England and was part of the Three Lions squads which reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96, the FA said on its website.
He was later the head coach of the England Under-21s.
During a long club career, he made more than 400 appearances for Nottingham Forest, many of them as captain, during a 12-year spell at the City Ground.
He later managed the club, as well as another former club, Manchester City.
Pearce currently works as a pundit on talkSPORT, which said on its website that Harley and Chelsea were the two children he had with his ex-wife Liz.
Presenter Jim White said during a broadcast on Monday that “everybody here on this show and at talkSPORT sends our heartfelt condolences to the family of Stuart Pearce after that tragic news we’ve just heard”.
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Several of the clubs he played for posted tributes on X, including Forest, who said they were “deeply saddened”.
The club said: “The thoughts of everyone connected with Nottingham Forest are with Stuart and his family at this truly difficult time.”
West Ham United said: “We are saddened to hear of Harley Pearce’s passing.
“Everyone at the Club sends their deepest condolences to Stuart and his family at this tragic time.”
Manchester City said: “Everyone at Manchester City sends their love and thoughts to Stuart and his family at this very difficult time.”
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