The Scottish Conservatives were in turmoil last night as the fallout from the divisive leadership contest caused further headaches for the new leader.
Ruth Davidson was forced to delay naming her front bench team as ”simmering unhappiness” saw MSPs refuse prominent roles they were offered.
Annabel Goldie’s successor had been expected to unveil the details of her team on Wednesday, but it became clear during the course of the day that internal divisions had made that impossible.
Ms Davidson was elected to the post six days ago after a bitter leadership contest dominated by a proposal by unsuccessful candidate Murdo Fraser to form a new party under a different name.
A series of crunch meetings were held between the new leader and individual Conservative MSPs to discuss the party’s future.
The Courier has learned that Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith, who supported Mr Fraser in the leadership contest, was asked to move from education spokeswoman to the rural affairs portfolio.
However, Ms Smith rejected the offer forcing Ms Davidson to backtrack and allow the former teacher to keep the education role.
A senior party source told The Courier other MSPs had also expressed unhappiness over Ms Davidson’s plan meaning the announcement of the front bench team had to be postponed until today.
”Ruth came along a little gung-ho and tried to lay down the law, but she soon found out they weren’t going to take it lying down,” said the source. ”There is a lot of simmering unhappiness about how this was dealt with.”
It is understood Mr Fraser was offered a front bench role but declined, believing his presence would be a distraction for the media and give ammunition to the party’s opponents.
He asked to instead be formally charged with organising the party’s response to Alex Salmond’s planned referendum on Scottish independence. But his offer was declined, with Ms Davidson insisting she would take the lead during the constitutional debate.
Mr Fraser is instead expected to take over the convenership of the economy, energy and tourism committee. It was unclear last night what role current convener, Gavin Brown, would now play.
Highland and Islands list MSP Mary Scanlon is also understood to be angry that she has been removed from her role as health spokeswoman.
The row means Ms Davidson could face the embarrassing prospect of confronting Alex Salmond across the Holyrood chamber for the first time today without her front bench team in place.
Frantic attempts were ongoing overnight to have the team in place by noon, when the weekly First Minister’s question session takes place.
It is expected Ms Davidson’s campaign manager John Lamont and other leadership rival Jackson Carlaw will be given prominent roles on her team.
Ayr MSP John Scott, another supporter of Ms Davidson, is unable to take a front bench role due to his position as deputy presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament. But former presiding officer Alex Fergusson is expected to take a major role.
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