Scotland Bill sceptic in last-minute bid to enter Tory leadership race

The Tory politician, who has been an outspoken critic of handing more powers to Holyrood, was trying to secure the 100 nominations she needs from party members to stand.

The nominations need to be presented to the party by noon today if her bid is to be successful and she is to join Murdo Fraser, Ruth Davidson and Jackson Carlaw in the contest.

They need to come from paid-up party members who have been in the Conservatives for at least three months.

Ms Mitchell has been the only Tory MSP to openly criticise Conservative support of the Scotland Bill, the proposed legislation that will see Holyrood given new borrowing powers and the ability to set the rate of income tax.

In the past, she has suggested that giving the parliament more powers will encourage the drift towards independence – a view likely to prove popular with some sections of the 8,500 Scottish Conservative members, who will decide who is to take over from Annabel Goldie.

If she succeeds in standing, Ms Mitchell could pinch some of Mr Carlaw’s votes, given that he has so far been portrayed as the “no further” candidate when it comes to constitutional change.

While Ms Mitchell was still seeking support, the other three candidates announced that they all have the required number of nominations.

In addition, Mr Fraser yesterday announced that he so far has the support of 46 of the 133 Scottish Conservative councillors. The list includes the leaders of the Conservative groups on Dumfries and Galloway, Edinburgh, Perth and Kinross, Fife and Aberdeenshire Councils.

The Fraser team is confident that more councillors will come forward to support his attempt to form a new Scottish centre right party.

In a letter to The Scotsman today, the five group leaders, Marcus Humphrey of Aberdeenshire, Jeremy Balfour of Edinburgh, Ivor Hyslop of Dumfries and Galloway, Dave Dempsey of Fife and Alexander Stewart of Perth and Kinross say that they believe Mr Fraser’s new party is the “first step in reconnecting with voters at a local level”.

Yesterday Mr Fraser said: “I am delighted that, this early in the campaign, I have secured the support of so many councillors with many others indicating they will also be supporting me.

“These are the men and women who are on the ground, fighting for their local communities and promoting our values. They know more than anyone how difficult it is to expand our party’s appeal in the face of the identity problem we have.”

Welcoming the fact that she had received enough nominations to go forward in the leadership battle, Ms Davidson said: “I am delighted to have secured the support from party members right across Scotland to be nominated as a candidate.

“It’s clear there is a real groundswell of support behind my vision to renew the Scottish Conservatives. I see it in every stop I make and every member I meet on my 59 constituency tour. I want to lead a Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party which wins again.”