Murdo Fraser’s bid to be the next Scottish Conservative leader has won the backing of two high-profile party members.
Liz Smith and Struan Stevenson say they believe the Mid Scotland and Fife MSP should succeed Annabel Goldie. MEP Mr Stevenson said Mr Fraser was a “moderniser” who wants to see “radical reform” of the party. Ms Smith, a Mid Scotland and Fife MSP and the Tories’ education spokeswoman at Holyrood, added that Mr Fraser could make the party “electable” again.
The double boost to Mr Fraser’s campaign follows the backing of North East Scotland MSP Alex Johnstone last week.
Mr Stevenson, who has represented Scotland at the European Parliament since 1999, said: “I have pledged my support to Murdo because he is determined to take the Scottish Tory Party by the scruff of the neck and give it a good shake. He is a moderniser and believes that radical reform is the only way to get our party on its feet again in Scotland.”
He added: “Scotland has slid quietly into a left-wing political consensus and yet I am certain that there are tens of thousands of Scots who would support us if we had a clear vision for Scotland and were seen as a modern, effective campaigning force. I believe under Murdo we can achieve these objectives.”
Ms Smith, who will be Mr Fraser’s campaign manager, said: “Our party needs to be capable of winning again, it needs to attract voters from a much wider cross-section of Scottish society, and it needs a clear vision about how we will strengthen the United Kingdom.
“For me, and for many others, Murdo has got what it takes to make us electable again.”
Mr Fraser said he was “delighted” to win the pair’s backing. “Both are incredibly well-respected servants to our party and their confidence in me to take the party forward is greatly appreciated.”
He will launch his campaign in Edinburgh on Monday.
Jackson Carlaw, the list MSP for the West of Scotland, has also said he will stand. Ruth Davidson, the new list MSP for Glasgow, is also expected to join the race.