I’m backing Fraser, says grandee McLetchie

Published on Friday 7 October 2011 23:28

DAVID McLetchie has become the latest high-profile politician to throw his support behind Murdo Fraser in the increasingly divisive battle to lead the Scottish Conservatives.

Winning support from the man who used to hold the job gives the current deputy leader the support of the majority of Tory MSPs in the four-way contest as it enters its final stages.

Ballot papers will be sent out next week, but the contest has exposed deep divisions within the party north of the Border, and there are concerns that it will be some time before the wounds heal and members unite behind the eventual winner.

Of the four candidates, only two are still being talked of as potential leaders: Mr Fraser, with his plans to create a new centre-right party separate from the UK Tories, has won support from the majority of MSPs, but his main rival, Ruth Davidson, is popular with party members and she has been given the backing of David Mundell, the party’s only Scottish MP.

Mr McLetchie said he believes Mr Fraser – whose plans to scrap the party in Scotland were described as a “betrayal” by Mr Mundell – has the “ability, experience and vision” needed to take the party forward.

“Murdo has served a ten-year apprenticeship as MSP, firstly under my leadership and latterly under Annabel Goldie as her deputy,” Mr McLetchie said.

“So far this campaign has been dominated by discussion of Murdo’s proposal to realign the centre right in Scottish politics in a new party of which the present Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party would be an integral part.

“To do that Murdo needs to provide hard evidence of new supporters from the ranks of those who share our values and agree with us on many policies but presently decline to support us.

“I believe that Murdo deserves the chance to demonstrate that he can bring this about from the position of Scottish party leader.”

Mr Fraser said: “I am delighted to have David’s endorsement. He is one of the most significant figures in our party – a great leader and one of the most capable MSPs in the short history of our Scottish Parliament.”

The leadership contest, which arose as a result of Ms Goldie’s decision to stand down from the post following the party’s dismal performance in the elections in May, began with the usual well-mannered recognition of fellow candidates ability. But in recent days it has descended into a feisty scrap, with members hurling well-aimed barbs at one another.

Mr Fraser is now backed by seven of the Conservatives’ 15 MSPs: McLetchie, Alex Fergusson, Alex Johnstone, Liz Smith, Nanette Milne, Jamie McGrigor and Gavin Brown.

Meanwhile, Ms Davidson has received the support of John Lamont and John Scott, while Mary Scanlon is backing Jackson Carlaw. Ms Davidson, a former BBC journalist who only entered parliament in May, was initially seen as the break with tradition among the leadership candidates, as an openly gay kick- boxing enthusiast.

Mr Fraser’s proposals to effectively disband the party have had the most explosive impact on the contest and saw him assume the mantle of the radical reformer in the campaign. It left Ms Davidson to occupy the traditional ground with impassioned appeals for the Tories’ survival in Scotland.

“We are standing at a crossroads in Scottish Conservative history,” she said yesterday. “One direction leads to self-destruction, but the route I see will take us to a new age of success with a new face and a new voice that will be recognised and heard across Scotland.

“As the campaign moves into this crucial stage, I would respectfully ask all party members to think very carefully about what is at stake.

“I believe I can provide the new face and the new voice that the party needs to get us back to winning ways, not just for ourselves, but for Scotland too.”

Ms Davidson has also been endorsed by the leader of the House of Lords, Lord Strathclyde, former deputy chairman of the UK Conservative Party Michael Ancram, former Scottish secretary Lord Forsyth and David Mundell among others.

But her campaign hit rocky ground last week when the party’s chief spin doctor in Scotland, Ramsay Jones, was suspended for the duration of the leadership contest amid claims that he was backing Ms Davidson.

It followed reports that he had attended a meeting at the candidate’s home. As a party official he is under a strict mandate to remain neutral.

Mr Carlaw believes that his 30 years of experience in the Conservatives gives him the credentials to lead the party. He has been vociferous in his opposition to Mr Fraser’s plans to disband the Tories in Scotland and has pledged to push for an early referendum on independence.

He has also insisted he will secure a “strong Scotland in a great Britain” and said the future of the Union will be the “heart and soul” of his push to lead the party and appeal to members.

Despite his poor showing in the polls, Mr Carlaw was in defiant mood yesterday, saying: “This is the first time the membership, not the party noise-makers and bloggers, will decide on the future of our party. The members don’t need to be told how to use that vote.”

Ms Goldie pledged to remain neutral during the contest, and has not endorsed any candidate.

Bookies have made Ms Davidson a narrow favourite after a hustings at the party conference in Manchester. Polling released by the Conservative blog Tory Hoose earlier this week gave her a lead of 23 votes over Mr Fraser who led the previous poll by a similar margin. She took 44 per cent of the vote, the same share as the previous poll, but Mr Fraser’s support has slipped from 46 per cent to 38 per cent. Ms Mitchell finished third with 50 votes to Law’s 34 votes.

Ms Mitchell was a surprise entry in the contest last weekend. She is the only candidate to oppose the forthcoming Scotland Bill, which would hand sweeping new tax powers to the Scottish Parliament and more control over areas including borrowing.

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