Tory MSPs given role on wider front-bench

ALL the Conservative MSPs in the Scottish Parliament have been given a role in an expanded front-bench team, it was announced yesterday.

Two of the MSPs will be responsible for official parliamentary matters, Murray Tosh, the deputy presiding officer, and John Scott, the Tories’ representative on the corporate body.

David McLetchie will lead the party without a specific portfolio to shadow, while his deputy, Annabel Goldie, will take over the justice and home affairs brief which was held by Lord James Douglas-Hamilton in the last parliament.

Lord James will move to education, Brian Monteith to finance and local government, David Davidson to health, Mary Scanlon to the new communities brief and Murdo Fraser to enterprise and lifelong learning. Alex Johnstone, Ted Brocklebank and Alex Fergusson will share the rural affairs brief, with Mr Johnstone taking responsibility for rural development and the environment, Mr Fergusson looking after agriculture and forestry and Mr Brocklebank in charge of fisheries policy.

Bill Aitken will become the chief whip and business manager, Phil Gallie will look after constitutional affairs and Europe, David Mundell will speak on IT, telecommunications and transport, while Jamie McGrigor will look after tourism, culture and sport.

There are two deputy spokespeople, both of them new MSPs: Margaret Mitchell, who will act as Miss Goldie’s deputy, and Nanette Milne, who will deputise for Mr Davidson on health and community care matters.