Scottish Tories face criticism over rebranding

The Scottish Conservatives are planning to ditch their tree logo in a “rebranding” drive.

But the move was branded an “embarrassment” by opponents, who insist it is the party’s policies that need to change before the Tories’ fortunes are revived in Scotland.

In a letter to party activists, Tory deputy leader Jackson Carlaw says he has been tasked by leader Ruth Davidson with taking forward future plans on party branding, local party organisation and list ranking and candidate selection.

He says: “With the local elections now behind us, I am keen to initiate a consultation on a new party logo to replace the current tree. I would very much like to hear from all of you what key characteristics you believe any new branding should incorporate and, in particular, what values you think our new logo should seek to represent.”

The tree was seen as giving the Tories a softer, greener edge when it was introduced in 2006 by David Cameron.

SNP Glasgow Cathcart MSP James Dornan said: “They might get a new image, but everyone will know that they are still the same old Tories. It will take a whole lot more than the uprooting of their tree logo for the people of Scotland to be fooled by this lot.”