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”.
The UK will “set out a path” to lift defence spending to 2.5% of national income in the spring, the prime minister has said, finally offering a timeframe for an announcement on the long-awaited hike after mounting criticism.
Sir Keir Starmer gave the date during a phone call with Mark Rutte, the secretary general of NATO, in the wake of threats by Moscow to target UK and US military facilities following a decision by London and Washington to let Ukraine fire their missiles inside Russia.
There was no clarity though on when the 2.5% level will be achieved. The UK says it currently spends around 2.3% of GDP on defence.
Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sir Keir Starmer and NATO boss Mark Rutte in October. Pic: PA
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A spokeswoman for Downing Street said that the two men “began by discussing the situation in Ukraine and reiterated the importance of putting the country in the strongest possible position going into the winter”.
They also talked about the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers to fight alongside Russia.
“The prime minister underscored the need for all NATO countries to step up in support of our collective defence and updated on the government’s progress on the strategic defence review,” the spokeswoman said.
“His government would set out the path to 2.5% in the spring.”
The defence review will also be published in the spring.
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While a date for an announcement on 2.5% will be welcomed by the Ministry of Defence, analysts have long warned that such an increase is still well below the amount that is needed to rebuild the armed forces after decades of decline to meet growing global threats from Russia, an increasingly assertive China, North Korea and Iran.
They say the UK needs to be aiming to hit at least 3% – probably higher.
With Donald Trump returning to the White House, there will be significantly more pressure on the UK and other European NATO allies to accelerate increases in defence spending.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after one man died and another was critically injured in a shooting in Birmingham.
Police were called to Rotton Park Road in Edgbaston, just before 11pm on Friday, to reports that two people had been shot.
One man, in his 20s, was found in a car but was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another man, in his 30s, was found injured at a bus stop, and was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition, West Midlands Police added.
Firearms officers arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of murder just before 12.30am. He remains in custody.
Officers remain on the scene, with road closures in place. The force said reassurance patrols will also be taking place.
Detective Inspector Nick Barnes said: “This is a tragic incident, and we have worked through the night to understand exactly what happened.
“We’ve already made good progress and arrested a suspect, but I still need to hear from anyone who was in the area that we’ve not already spoken to.
“This happened near the busy junction with City Road and it may be that you’ve got dashcam footage or mobile phone footage from the area just before 11pm.
“We really need to hear from you so that we can build as clear a picture as possible of what happened.”
Officers are urging anyone with information to get in contact, with anonymous tips also taken via Crimestoppers.
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