Profile

Jackson Carlaw has been active in his party since his teenage years and is a former national chairman of the Scottish Young Conservatives.

The 52-year-old father of two was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2007 as a regional MSP – he is his party’s health and transport spokesman – having previously been the Westminster candidate for Queen’s Park in 1982 and Pollok in 1983.

Following the 1992 general election, he was appointed by John Major as vice-chairman and then deputy chairman of the party in Scotland – a post he held until 1998.

Mr Carlaw, a car salesman for 25 years, was a joint head of the FirstFord dealership and a director of Wylies (Automotive Services).

In October 2010, Mr Carlaw published a personal paper calling for reform of the Scottish Parliament, including longer sittings for MSPs.

He was once accused of telling racist jokes at a Tory party election launch, when he held the post of interim deputy chairman. He later apologised.

ANDREW WHITAKER