The leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Jackson Carlaw, resigned unexpectedly on Thursday, saying he is not “the person best placed” to make the case for the union amid growing calls for independence.
The successor to Ruth Davidson had been in the job since February having previously served as interim leader.
His decision to step down comes amid swelling support for Scottish independence – with a Panelbase poll for the Sunday Times conducted in early July showing that support for breaking up the union ran through 54 per cent of respondents.
In a statement, Mr Carlaw said: “Nothing is more important to me than making the case for Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom.
“I believe the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party is the most important voice in Scotland for setting out that positive argument. I am clear that nothing must get in the way of doing so.
“In the last few weeks, I have reached a simple if painful conclusion – that I am not, in the present circumstances, the person best placed to lead that case over these next vital months in Scottish politics prior to the Holyrood elections.”
Mr Carlaw added: “Given the importance I attach to the job, I’ve therefore decided to stand down with immediate effect.
“It is not an easy call but I have spent a lifetime in politics holding to the maxim that party and country comes first.”
The departure leaves the Scottish Tories without a leader for the second time in a year after Ms Davison stepped down in August 2019 citing ”professional and personal” reasons.
Having rallied the party to its best general election result for 35 years in 2017, she gave up her position shortly after the election of Boris Johnson to the national party’s leadership.
The hunt to find her successor was delayed by December’s general election, with Mr Carlaw serving as interim leader before being elected into the job in February – beating Michelle Ballantyne by 4,917 votes to 1,581.
Mr Johnson said Mr Carlaw had been a “tremendous servant to the Scottish Conservative Party for more than four decades”.
He added: ”As an activist, deputy chairman, deputy leader and leader, he has given his all and deserves our thanks for his efforts.
“It is a mark of his commitment to the cause that he chooses to stand aside at this time and I offer my best wishes to him, Wynne and the family.”
Nicola Sturgeon praised her former adversary, who she had faced only hours earlier during First Minister’s Questions. She tweeted: “I wish Jackson Carlaw all the best.
“We’ve crossed swords politically on many occasions, but worked constructively on some issues too – he has, eg, been a strong voice for women suffering mesh complications.
“Leadership is a tough business and I’m sure his decision wasn’t easy.”
