August 2020 Scottish Conservatives leadership election

The August 2020 Scottish Conservative Party leadership election was the fifth internal party election to elect the next leader of the Scottish Conservatives, part of the British Conservative Party and the second-largest political party in the devolved Scottish Parliament.

August 2020 Scottish Conservative Party leadership election

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Candidate Douglas Ross Popular vote Unopposed

Leader before election Jackson Carlaw Elected Leader Douglas Ross

Douglas Ross was announced as Leader on 5 August 2020 after running unopposed.^[1]

Background

On 30 July 2020, Jackson Carlaw resigned as leader of the Scottish Conservatives after he said that he wasn't the right person to lead Scotland's voice in the union.^[2] At the time, support for Scottish independence was rising and the SNP had a substantial lead in the polls ahead of the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections in 2021.^[3][4]

The previous leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, agreed to represent the party at First Minister's Questions until a replacement leader was chosen, and until the 2021 Scottish Parliament election if the new leader was not a current MSP, at which point she would stand down to take up her seat in the House of Lords.^[5]

Campaign

Douglas Ross, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Moray confirmed his intention to run for the leadership on 31 July. He was immediately endorsed by Ruth Davidson, a former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, and the former Scottish Secretary David Mundell.^[6][7] Ross also said he intended to stand as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) on the Highlands and Islands regional list if elected, while continuing to represent Moray in Westminster.^[8] Carlaw said that Ross's election should not be contested.^[6]

Candidates

Candidate	Born	Political office	Campaign	Ref.
Douglas Ross	27 January 1983 (age 41)	MP for Moray (since 2017) MSP for Highlands and Islands (2016–2017) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (2019–2020)	Campaign	[9][10]

Timeline

• 30 July: Jackson Carlaw resigns as leader of the Scottish Conservatives.
• 31 July: Douglas Ross declares his intention to stand as leader.
• 5 August: Nominations close, Douglas Ross is declared leader as no other candidates declared.^[1]

Endorsements

Douglas Ross

MSPs

• Jackson Carlaw, former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, MSP for Eastwood^[6]
• Ruth Davidson, former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, MSP for Edinburgh Central^[6]
• Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland^[11]
• Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow^[12]
• Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow^[13]
• Alison Harris, MSP for Central Scotland^[13]
• Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland^[13]
• Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian^[13]
• Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire^[13]
• John Scott, MSP for Ayr^[13]
• Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland^[13]
• Margaret Mitchell, MSP for Central Scotland^[13]

MPs

• Andrew Bowie MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine^[14]
• John Lamont, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk^[12]
• David Duguid, MP for Banff and Buchan^[13]

See also

• February 2020 Scottish Conservative Party leadership election
• 2021 Scottish Parliament election

References

1. "Douglas Ross confirmed as Scottish Conservative leader". BBC News. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
2. "Carlaw quits as Scottish Conservative leader". BBC News. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
3. Wood, Vincent (30 July 2020). "Scottish Tory leader resigns after just five months". The Independent. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
4. Vevers, Dan (30 July 2020). "Sturgeon pays tribute to Carlaw after he steps down". STV News. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
5. "Ruth Davidson to join House of Lords". BBC News. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
6. "Scottish Tories urged to let Douglas Ross run for the leadership unopposed". inews.co.uk. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
7. Mundell, David [@DavidMundellDCT] (31 July 2020). "I'm backing @Douglas4Moray to be leader of @ScotTories He's already shown he can take the fight to the SNP and stand up for our United Kingdom" (Tweet). Retrieved 31 July 2020 – via Twitter.
8. "Douglas Ross to stand for Scottish Tory leadership". BBC News. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
9. "Douglas Ross rumoured to take over as Jackson Carlaw quits as Scots Tory leader". The National. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
10. Hay, Katharine (31 July 2020). "Douglas Ross 'likely' to stand as a candidate for leader of Scottish Conservatives following Jackson Carlaw's resignation". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
11. Hutcheon, Paul (31 July 2020). "Douglas Ross could win Scottish Tory leadership without a contest". dailyrecord. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
12. "Douglas Ross secures backing of key Tory MSPs amid Scottish Conservative leadership bid". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
13. "Endorsements – Douglas Ross for Leader". Retrieved 1 August 2020.
14. Merson, Adele. "North-east MP claims Douglas Ross's leadership would mark 'real positive' for region". Press and Journal. Retrieved 31 July 2020.