Brian Whittle announces Tory leadership bid

Brian Whittle has announced his bid for leadership of the Scottish Conservative Party, pledging to “build a party that can win”.

He is the second MSP to enter the race, following Russell Findlay who confirmed he would stand last week.

The contest follows the resignation of Douglas Ross from the role during the general election campaign.

The rules and process for the race are set to be decided on Wednesday evening after a meeting of the party’s management board.

Writing for The Scotsman, Whittle said his party had never been a “serious contender” for government and needed to become “more pro-active” to help change that image.

He wrote: “I want the Scottish Conservatives to plan beyond the short term. Not only thinking about what we want Scotland’s future to be but building into our platform the specific actions needed to get there.

“I believe there are three core principles – education, enterprise and empowering people.”

As many as nine MSPs are thought to be considering running for the leadership.

It follows an election which saw them retain five of their six seats in Scotland. However, the party’s share of the vote nationally halved.

Current polling suggests the party will drop back to the third largest party in Holyrood in 2026 with a much-diminished group.

Findlay said he is running to “overturn the stifling left-wing consensus” at Holyrood. He has been backed by five MSPs so far: Rachael Hamilton, Miles Briggs, Douglas Lumsden, Tess White and Sandesh Gulhane.

Others who may throw their hat into the ring include Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Graham Simpson, Liam Kerr and Murdo Fraser.

One key theme of the contest so far is the question of the party’s links with the UK-wide party, which itself is holding its own leadership contest.

Candidates so far are Kemi Badenoch, Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Robert Jenrick, Tom Tugendhat and James Cleverly. Suella Braverman has ruled herself out.

That contest is set to run until 2 November. A four-way hustings is to take place at the autumn conference before MPs reduce down the number to two, who will go forward for a membership vote.