Supporters to bankroll Annabel Goldie's No2 for leadership

Published on Tuesday 10 May 2011 18:51

SCOTTISH Conservative deputy leader Murdo Fraser has received offers from party supporters to help bankroll a leadership bid to succeed Annabel Goldie.

There was also a strong hint from John Lamont - one of only three Tories to win a constituency seat at Holyrood - who said supporters had told him the party "needs a winner" to make progress in Scotland.

A leadership contest will be held this autumn involving the party's members across Scotland, after Miss Goldie resigned in the wake of a disappointing Holyrood election for the Conservatives.

The Scotsman has learned from a party source that Mr Fraser has been contacted by dozens of Conservative members urging him to stand for the post, with some offering to help fund any campaign if the MSP opts to run.

A party source said there had been a "good start", with party members getting in touch to offer financial support to Mr Fraser, while others had phoned to try to "persuade" him to take part in a leadership contest.

However, the source would not say how much cash was offered to Mr Fraser by donors, or who the benefactors might be.

Senior Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone has also thrown his weight behind a possible leadership bid by Mr Fraser, who has yet to make a firm decision about whether he will stand.

Meanwhile, Mr Lamont, the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP, told The Scotsman that the party needed a "branch of Conservatism that wins votes" and suggested that he was best placed to do this.

Mr Lamont, a justice spokesman for his party, said: "I'm considering the options, but we need a brand of Conservatism that wins votes. I have shown that I have the ability to do that by winning my constituency.

"People have talked to me about standing, and I'm flattered by the calls I've had.

"People say we need a winner. Someone who can win a constituency and not just list votes."

Frontrunner Mr Fraser said he would make up his mind about whether to stand during the next few weeks after consulting friends and family.

He said: "It's early days with any leadership election and I'll consider the matter over the coming weeks."

Mr Johnstone, who has been an MSP since 1999, claimed Mr Fraser was "not a Thatcherite" and said he had a "modern and forward-looking" approach to politics.He said: "I'd be delighted to be part of his election campaign if he decides to stand."

Another possible candidate for leader is the West Scotland list MSP Jackson Carlaw, who told The Scotsman he was "not ruling" out standing, but he was "reflecting" on his failure to win the constituency of Eastwood.

The Tory had been expected to take seat in last Thursday's election, which saw the party's tally of MSPs at Holyrood drop from 17 to 15.