2024 Scottish Conservatives Leadership Election

[YorkRailFan]

3 candidates have received the required 100 nominations to proceed into the next round of the leadership election at the Scottish Conservatives following the resignation of Douglas Ross in June. The first round of voting is on 2nd September, with the candidate receiving the fewest votes being eliminated and the second round is on 26 September, where the candidate with more than 50% of the vote will become party leader.

One of the 3 candidates, Murdo Fraser, is trying to appeal to the more socially conservative members of the party by claiming he is still opposed to same-sex marriage, after voting against it a decade ago.

A Scottish Tory leadership candidate has said he still does not support gay marriage because of his religious beliefs, 10 years after voting against it.

However, Murdo Fraser told Sky News that he is now "quite relaxed" about same-sex adoption, having previously voiced opposition to it.

Scottish Tory leadership candidate Murdo Fraser says he still doesn't support gay marriage

The Scottish parliament overwhelmingly voted to allow gay couples to marry in 2014. At the time, Murdo Fraser was one of 18 MSPs to oppose it.

news.sky.com

 

[GusB]

It's rather telling that nobody has responded to this thread so far.

Option 1: who?
Option 2: nah, we've had him before
Option 3: who?

I hate to say it, but could we have wee Ruth back, please?

 

[cb a1]

or even Annabel Goldie.

 

[Busaholic]

It's rather telling that nobody has responded to this thread so far.

Option 1: who?
Option 2: nah, we've had him before
Option 3: who?

I hate to say it, but could we have wee Ruth back, please?

I hear Liz Truss is learning Gselic and viewing a Billy Connolly box set to get the accent.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I hear Liz Truss is learning Gselic and viewing a Billy Connolly box set to get the accent.

No no no no!

 

[YorkRailFan]

The three candidates will face off during a live debate on STV tonight.

The three candidates vying to be leader of the Scottish Conservative party will take part in a televised debate on Monday evening.

In a special edition of STV’s nightly current affairs programme, Scotland Tonight, the candidates – Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser and Meghan Gallacher – will go head-to-head to set out their respective visions for the party, which they hope to lead into the next Scottish Parliament election in 2026.

The programme will be hosted by STV’s political editor Colin Mackay from the broadcaster’s Pacific Quay headquarters in Glasgow.

Linda Grimes Douglas, head of news and current affairs at STV, said: “With voting starting just two days later, this debate on September 2 will provide an important opportunity for candidates to set out their stalls to the party membership and the wider public, and prove why they should become the next Scottish Conservative leader at what is a critical time for the party.”Voting in the 2024 Scottish Conservatives leadership election starts on September 4 and concludes on September 26, with the winner being announced the following day.

The Scotland Tonight special will air on Monday 2 September at 10:40pm on STV and STV Player.

Scottish Conservative leadership candidates to face off in STV debate

Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser and Meghan Gallacher will set out their visions for the party in a debate hosted by STV's political editor Colin Mackay.

news.stv.tv

Will be interesting to see who comes across as better at debating.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Who won then?

 

[YorkRailFan]

Who won then?

The Scotsman gave the three candidates ratings based on their performance:

Russell Findlay
The Tories justice spokesperson looked relaxed under a barrage of attacks from Mr Fraser and was confident any Conservative leader “should have the ambition” of becoming First Minister.
Best moment: Looked calm under pressure and pushed back on claims he was the continuity candidate from Mr Fraser who he stressed has been a politicians for more than two decades. Cracked a good joke at the expensive of Humza Yousaf.

Worst moment: Excruciatingly once again refused to say if he’s taken illegal drugs. Made worse by Mr Fraser bluntly saying he “once smoked a joint” but it “did nothing for me”, adding that “politicians should give honest answers”.

Scotsman rating: 4/5

Murdo Fraser

Mr Fraser claimed he would deliver “real change” but insisted “I’m not going to split the party away from Westminster of set up a new one”.
Best moment: Looked strong going on the attack against Mr Findlay - was honest about the slim chances he was going to become first minister and laid into Mr Ross for his flawed leadership.

Worst moment: Struggled to shake the old Tory image while pleading for change.

Scotsman rating: 4.5/5

Meghan Gallacher
Best moment: Unlike her rivals, was able to better set out her positions on key issues that will chime more with voters outside the Scottish Tories.

Worst moment: Was backed into a corner over being “frozen out” of discussions at the top, despite being deputy leader and faced an uncomfortable series of questions that highlighted she didn’t know how many members her party has.
But she faced a series of uncomfortable questions that gave the perception she was out of the loop.
Scotsman rating: 3.5

Scottish Tory leadership rivals clash over party reforms, drug-taking and economy

Russell Findlay and Murdo Fraser clashed over who can bring about change for the Tories while Meghan Gallacher faced an uncomfortable series of questions in the STV Scottish Conservatives’ leadership debate.

www.scotsman.com

According to The Scotsman, Fraser won the debate.