A Tory peer will join Downing Street as a special adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson this year.
Lord McInnes of Kilwinning CBE, a veteran backroom operator for the Scottish Tories, will likely play a key role in drawing up a strategy to strengthen the Union and counter independence.
The Tory Government had initially hoped that its so-called “Union Unit” would mastermind a response to the SNP.
However, the Unit was replaced and McInnes will provide advice directly to Johnson.
The former Edinburgh councillor, who was also a board member of Better Together, was director of the Scottish party for 18 years and is an ally of former leader Ruth Davidson.
He said: “I want to say a sincere ‘thank you’ to all the party members, activists and supporters who it has been my pleasure to work with over the years.
“Together we have achieved so much, helping win the 2014 referendum, contributing to the election of Conservative governments, and firmly establishing the Scottish Conservatives as Scotland’s second biggest party and real alternative to the SNP. I know that the party will go on to even greater success in future.”
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: “On behalf of the whole party, I wish Mark every success in his new role.
“He has been central to the renewal of our party over the last decade and has made an invaluable contribution to the Conservative and Unionist cause as Director, as a constituency agent before that and, as we all were to begin with, a voluntary activist.
“Now he is moving on to fresh challenges and he does so with our thanks and best wishes.”
