Champion of change

ONCE a committed Thatcherite, the Scottish Tory party’s deputy leader Murdo Fraser, above, yesterday put himself forward as the candidate for future change.

In contrast to his rival Jackson Carlaw, who believes in the status quo, Mr Fraser is a long-time advocate of more powers for Holyrood, on the grounds that the parliament should be responsible for raising the money it spends.

The 45-year-old, who is married with one son, is MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife and was chairman of the Scottish Young Conservatives in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

He said: “We are still a long way from being a real force in Scottish politics. In order to become one we require renewal and change.”