Murdo Fraser returned to Tory shadow cabinet

Murdo Fraser returns to the front bench. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

Mr Fraser refused to join Ruth Davidson’s frontbench team after he was narrowly defeated by her in a bitter leadership contest in 2011.

However, Ms Davidson handed her former rival the post of enterprise, energy and tourism spokesman in a shake up of her frontbench team.

Mr Fraser had stood on a platform of disbanding the Scottish Tories and forming a new breakaway right of centre party during the

leadership election two years ago.

He has served as the convenor of Holyrood’s economy committee since his defeat and will continue in that role despite his return to the frontbench.

Meanwhile, Tory education spokeswoman Liz Smith moves from her post to take over the culture and sport portfolio for the party at Holyrood.

Mary Scanlon takes over the education role, while Margaret Mitchell, who also contested the leadership election, becomes the justice spokeswoman.

Ms Davidson said that newly installed Tory MSP Cameron Buchanan, who succeeds the late David McLetchie as a list member for Lothian, would be a spokesman on local government and planning She said: “The Scottish Conservatives have a strong team and will be working closely together at this crucial time to develop and promote policies designed to make a positive difference to the lives of people in Scotland.”