Time to end downward drift of support

That should have been a winning formula last May but, once again, our share of the vote dropped dramatically and we returned to fewer MSPs than we did in 2007.

Enough is enough, and we have to have a fundamental change of focus if we are to restore a right-of-centre balance to our Scottish Parliament – it is time to end the depressing downward drift of support that has turned out for us in each election since 1999.

I fully understand that some of our members are being asked to take decisions that are difficult for them, but the fact remains that Murdo Fraser’s vision for the future of this party is the only one that offers any real substance for our return to winning ways and any real optimism that we will do so.

That majority of elected MSPs, councillors and our MEP agree with Murdo’s radical suggestions. As one who first defeated the SNP in 2003 to win the constituency of Galloway and Upper Nithsdale, and who has done so at two further elections, I have no doubt whatsoever that Murdo Fraser’s leadership points to the only credible way ahead for the future of our party, and for the robust defence of Scotland’s rightful place within a firmly United Kingdom.

Current talk of matters such as who will or won’t be able to vote for future Conservative leaders at Westminster is nothing more than blatant scaremongering. This is the time for boldness to overcome entrenchment.

Rt Hon Alex Fergusson

MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries

St John’s Town of Dalry

Castle Douglas

Allan Massie has a knack of cutting to the chase. In his brilliant assessment of the leadership race for the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party (Perspective, 12 October) he articulates in clear and incisive fashion what the party must do if it is ever to revive its fortunes. First, he asserts, forget all talk of rebranding. Murdo Fraser’s proposal to dissolve the party and start all over again is, he says, like something dreamt up by a PR firm, not a serious politician.

Massie, who can find simple solutions to what often appear complex problems, is refreshingly blunt. If I may dare to paraphrase: if the Scottish Tories want to win again they need to get off their backsides and work hard from the bottom up.

That is why out of the four candidates, Massie unequivocally opts for Ruth Davidson as his choice for the leadership. Ms Davidson, he says, “believes that what the Scottish Tories require is not a cosmetic facelift and rebranding, but hard work at constituency and local government level. This is why she deserves to win.”

And that is why she will get my vote.

Iain McGill

West Annandale Street

Edinburgh

Can I, as an ordinary voter, add my thoughts to the Conservative debate? Murdo Fraser offers a unique solution to the Tory shortcomings in Scotland by revamping the party, changing its name and starting afresh.

Let us not forget that Tony Blair (no relation) did something similar many years ago with outstanding success! In fact, it could be argued that his transition from Old Labour to New Labour was more radical than possibly anything that Murdo Fraser might contemplate.

Fraser’s major rival would appear to be Ruth Davidson, an MSP with five minutes’ Holyrood experience under her belt, as opposed to Fraser’s ten years in Holyrood.

Is it any wonder that her solution for the future consists of inquiries and commissions to investigate proposals for change? Further, her principal supporters, Lord Sanderson and Lord Forsyth, come from the old guard of Tory elite who were partly responsible for the mess that the Tory Party is currently in.

Pot and kettle surprisingly come to mind.

Archie Blair

Riverside Park

Blairgowrie, Perthshire