Scottish Tory MP Douglas Ross has confirmed he will stand for his party’s leadership after Jackson Carlaw quit.
He said as leader he would want to move on from the “divisions of the past” and focus on the economy, health and education.
If he wins, he will ask former leader Ruth Davidson to lead the Scottish Tories at First Minister’s Questions.
Ross, the MP for Moray, was briefly an MSP before getting elected to Westminster in 2017.
He famously quit as a junior Scotland Office Minister in protest at the lockdown behaviour of UK Government adviser Dominic Cummings.
After Carlaw’s shock resignation yesterday, Ross was immediately tipped as a potential successor.
Announcing his leadership bid, he said:
“This is a crucial time in Scottish politics. We are months away from an important election, and need strong, decisive leadership of our party to take on and defeat the SNP in seats right across the country.
“My message to voters across Scotland will be this: if you want to build a better Scotland, if you want to beat the SNP, and if you want to put the divisions of the past few years behind us, the party I plan to lead is one you can unite behind, and one that can win.
He said: “I want us to show clearly to everyone in Scotland, no matter where they live or who they are, that if they want to move on from the divisions of the past and focus on the issues that really matter; a strong economy, good schools, safe streets and a world-leading NHS then the Scottish Conservatives will be their voice.
“Scotland is an integral part of the United Kingdom and that’s a relationship I want to maintain and improve. Under my leadership, this will be an absolute priority.”
If successful, he will seek election as an MSP at the next Holyrood elections in May.
