Liam Kerr calls for Scottish Conservatives to debate split from UK party

The Scottish Conservatives should consider a split from the UK party in the wake of successive election results, a potential leadership contender has said.

North East MSP Liam Kerr, who previously served as deputy leader, has said it is time to "revisit" the idea of the Scottish Tories becoming a separate party as it seeks a new chief.

Kerr is amongst those mulling a leadership run as incumbent Douglas Ross prepares to step down.

Ross made that announcement during the general election campaign following a row over his adoption as the candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, a move which saw former Scotland Office minister David Duguid out of the race.

A timeline for the selection of his successor has not been set out, but as many as nine MSPs are understood to be considering putting themselves forward for the leadership.

These include Russell Findlay and Graham Simpson.

Education spokesman Kerr has now said members must consider the "logical" question of "whether there is a need for a fundamentally reformed or even distinct Scottish centre-right party".

That comes after the Scottish Conservative vote share halved in the general election. 

Writing in The Scotsman, Kerr said: "In Scottish Parliament elections, my party struggles to get above 24 per cent. Even during the years when Ruth Davidson united much of the unionist movement, we still didn’t break that figure.

"So talk of a 'reset' must really be about how we aim higher. And part of that conversation needs to fully consider whether that requires a different relationship with the UK Conservative Party."

Murdo Fraser MSP floated the idea of a separate Scottish Conservative Party in the 2011 leadership contest, which was won by Davidson.

Kerr said: "There were pros and cons, and ultimately the membership rejected the idea.

"But, 13 years on, with so much having happened politically, it is surely important that we revisit it as part of the current leadership process."

Findlay has cautioned against debate on breaking away from the UK Conservative Party.

And, writing in the Daily Express, Simpson has said his campaign slogan would be "principles not protest" if he decided to run.