‘There will be a very big role for Murdo Fraser in the new team’ says Ruth Davidson

By Andrew Whitaker
Published on Monday 7 November 2011 00:33

NEWLY elected Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has promised that there will be a “very big role” in the party for her defeated rival Murdo Fraser following a bitter leadership contest.

Ms Davidson’s move to make peace with her closest rival in the election comes just days after her narrow victory over Mr Fraser, who the new leader had accused of putting forward a “destabilising distraction” by backing a Scottish centre right split from the UK Tories.

The new leader has already been criticised by former high- profile supporter QC Paul McBride, who resigned from the party over the weekend, launching a strongly worded attack on Ms Davidson, claiming she had “no policies and little experience apart from having been on television”.

But Ms Davidson dismissed suggestions that it could be difficult to reunite the party following the election, which was also contested by Margaret Mitchell and Jackson Carlaw.

The new leader is due to hold a meeting tomorrow with the party MSPs at Holyrood, where seven members, including the former party leader David McLetchie, openly backed Mr Fraser.

Yesterday Ms Davidson said there will be “a very big role for Murdo Fraser” as she prepared to announce her frontbench team at Holyrood.

She said: “This was an energising contest for our party – and not just Murdo, but also Jackson and Margaret.

“We really did capture the imagination of our electorate within the party and within the media, it would be fair to say.

“We are a much stronger party for having had this election.”

Mr Fraser, who was defeated by a final margin of more than 500 votes in the leadership contest, said he wanted to meet Ms Davidson later this week before announcing any decision about his future.

Ms Davidson has also set out policy rifts between her Scottish party and Prime Minister David Cameron’s government, who she previously said was not “my boss”.

She said: “I have quite big disagreements with his justice spokesman Ken Clarke on short-term sentences, so that’s one area of disagreement.

“I have disagreement with the Chancellor on a couple of areas which I’ve written to him about.

“One is about cancelling tax-specific support for the computer games industry, which would have a huge benefit.

“Another area is the tax status of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014. Why are they different to the Olympic Games in 2012?”

Meanwhile, Mr McBride was critical of Ms Davidson’s campaign manager, John Lamont, the party’s justice spokesman, over Tory opposition to the SNP’s legislation to tackle sectarianism.

Mr McBride, who had previously defected from Labour to the Tories, yesterday released a strongly worded statement saying that the bulk of Scottish voters “despise” Ms Davidson’s party.

The statement said: “The Scottish Tories are no friends of the people of Scotland.

“The MSP group is divided and dysfunctional. Their only policy is to oppose everything and contribute nothing.

“Half the membership wants the party abolished and 87 per cent of the electorate despise them.

“Their naked opportunism regarding the minimum pricing bill and the offensive behaviour bill demonstrates why they will remain unelectable.

“Nothing suggests they have the insight to change and I want nothing to do with them.

“Money and support will drain away and Alex Salmond will not lose a moment’s sleep.”

Ms Davidson also called for the scrapping of the SNP’s flagship policy of free prescriptions, saying that those “able to pay, should pay”.

However, the new Scottish Tory leader was heavily criticised, after she was unable to say how much a person would have to earn before being charged and said that the party would have to “look at parameters”.

SNP MSP Bob Doris said: “The Tories say we shouldn’t do this. They want to make the sick and the medium-low income families cough-up to get well.” SNP MP Pete Wishart said Ms Davidson looks likely to preside over an “implosion” in the party.

He said: “While Murdo Fraser sought to disband the Conservatives in Scotland, it looks like Ruth Davidson is set to preside over an implosion.”

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Comments

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21

Rufus T Firefly

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 08:22 PM

I don't think a big roll is very healthy.

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20

Anagach

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 06:24 PM

“Another area is the tax status of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014. Why are they different to the Olympic Games in 2012?” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Has no one told her its the Union Dividend.

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19

Richard Lionheart

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 02:10 PM

Appears that she shares the same self delusional attitude of one Godron Brown. Presumably re introduction of Prescription charges features as one of her social justice "pledges"? RIP Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

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18

Broon Bairn

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 01:45 PM

Maybe Murdo can make the tea and serve the scones at the next meeting?

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17

ferryman

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 11:25 AM

I watched her interview on TV yesterday and after doing so, I have come to the conclusion that her tenure as leader of the Scottish Tories will be a short one. Be prepared for leadership Mr Fraser, although your destiny will mean nothing to me. Your party in Scotland is heading for the fate of the Dodo.

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16

trenchchat

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 10:57 AM

I hate the Tories. Thatcher forced me out of a job and out of my country leading to the break up of my family of which we have never fully recovered. Davidson and her ilk have a lot to answer for.

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15

[e-mail]

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 10:34 AM

The party has just condemed itself to another spell in the doldrums, I cannot understand why they ignored the oppertunity for reform under Murdo Fraser, Im afraid like me their supporters will be thinking about change .

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14

Shah Hoorsur

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 10:21 AM

At least she was the best looking of the bunch and is in a different universe when compared to the auld granny that used to lead the party. It's good to see her uphold the arrogant traditions of the British Establishment party of choice. By the time she finishes insulting the Scottish population, the Tories will be officially extinct as a Scottish political party. Happy times ahead!!

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13

and I'm not making this up

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 09:47 AM

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12

Reality Check

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 09:06 AM

The Conservatives have 15 MSPs out of the 129 MSPs in the Scottish Parliament Ruth was publicly supported by only two of her MSP colleagues. Murdo was publicly supported by seven his MSP colleagues.

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11

M78

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 08:46 AM

She sealed her fate on the Isobel Fraser interview yesterday, not exactly impressive, Also interesting that Paul McBride Q.C. has exposed the opposition parties in Holyrood as opposing for opposings sake and not remotely interested in discussing matters conducive to the good governance of Scotland

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10

samcoldstream

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 08:31 AM

It will take more than a change of leader for the Scots Tory Party brand which is a marketing nightmare.

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9

Chappit Tatties

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 07:53 AM

Of course there is a role for him in the "new team". There are so few of them around they have to work really hard to pull a "team" together. And that includes going down to the pub to see if anyone wants a game!!!!

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8

SlyFifer

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 07:46 AM

Aye Right !. Murdo Fraser is a toxic brand within a toxic product. He has no future under Davidson and he knows it. Sure he polled a substantial proportion of the votes which only goes to show how many of the silvered hairs realise that they are rapidly heading for political oblivion. Murdo wants to set up a new centre party. There is one already it's called the SDA. Perhaps Murdo might see the light and join an already established organisation except that this one, the SDA stand for independence from both the UK and the EU. That may be two steps too far for a once dyed in the wool Unionist ?.

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7

nabodican

Monday, November 7, 2011 at 07:40 AM

If you are driving down the wrong road, how far do you go before turning back. ? The present Scottish conservatives are on the wrong road. I would advise Murdo to split and form a new centre right party.

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