Guido understands this is as a result of pressure from below. A senior Scottish Tory source tells Guido that Carlaw has “woken up to the fact that he wasn’t up to the job”. There had been member resignations and petitions being circulated calling for a vote of no confidence in his leadership. Another source tells Guido “there has been a huge amount of grassroots unhappiness.” There have been suggestions that Number 10 have not been particularly happy with performance. He was only elected in February…
Scottish Tory MP Douglas Ross is reportedly gearing up to announce his candidacy.
Carlaw’s former opponent in February’s leadership race tells Guido “He’s done the right thing. It gives the party a chance to take stock, reassess and gear up to properly fight the 2021 election.”
Acting leader Jackson Carlaw romped home to victory on 76% of the vote, cementing a position he has effectively held on and off since Ruth Davidson’s maternity leave. The full results are as follows:
- Ballantyne: 1,581 (24%)
- Carlaw: 4,917 (76%)
Challenger Michelle Ballantyne has congratulated Jackson on his victory.
Congratulations to @Jackson_Carlaw on being elected leader of the @ScotTories
— Michelle Ballantyne (@MBallantyneMSP) February 14, 2020
Thank you so much to all those who voted for me and a heartfelt thank you to my #BackingBallantyne team
Now our party must come together to show the real alternative to the SNP and beat them in 2021 pic.twitter.com/r0kpezB0dj
A scandal is brewing north of the border as an internal Tory email has found its way into the pages of the Daily Record. The shocking content? That a Tory leadership contender praised the most successful Tory leader since the war…
The most curious thing about the incredibly weak attack piece is that it comes just days after rank-outsider Michelle Ballantyne sought inclusion on the ballot for the Scottish Tory leadership to force the acting (and unelected) leader Jackson Carlaw to be put through his paces by the membership.
