Meghan Gallacher enters Conservative leadership contest

Meghan Gallacher has announced she is joining the Scottish Conservative leadership contest.

The current deputy leader of the party is the third person to enter the running, joining Russell Findlay and Brian Whittle.  

The party set out dates for the contest yesterday. Nominations open on 8 August and the winner will be announced on 27 September.  

The Central Scotland MSP said the leadership election “offers the opportunity for a reset” and will allow the Scottish Tories to “renew our offering to the people of Scotland”.  

She said she will focus on being a “modern centre-right party” that is “focused on delivering for everyone in Scotland”.  

Gallacher said: "Scotland knows what we stand against, but do they know what we stand for?

"This leadership election presents an opportunity for a reset - to renew our offering to the people of Scotland and to our membership who have stood by us through the good times and the bad.

"We need to utilise our talents, build a stronger team and look to the future."

Gallacher was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2021 and became deputy leader a year later.

Prior to that she served as a councillor on North Lanarkshire Council.

Her rivals for leadership have also put renewal of the party at the centre of their campaigns. Findlay said he is running to “overturn the stifling left-wing consensus” at Holyrood.

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