Tag: Conservative Party leadership contest

 Another Tory MSP endorses Tom Tugendhat MP for Leader

Liz Smith CBE MSP endorses Tom Tugendhat MP for Conservative Leader and his vision for public services

  • Shadow Finance Secretary Liz Smith CBE MSP endorses Tom Tugendhat for Leader of the UK Conservative Party after he outlined his vision for public services
  • She argues Scotland deserves better than 17 years of SNP failure on public services and prioritising constitutional reform over delivery
  • Joining 11 other MSPs, she recognises Tom is the only person who understands the challenges Scotland is facing and will deliver a true, conservative approach to public services 

Scotland’s Shadow Finance Secretary Liz Smith CBE MSP joins eleven of her Conservative Colleagues in Holyrood and endorses Shadow Security Minister Tom Tugendhat for UK Conservative Party Leader. 

Echoing her Conservative colleagues, Liz is clear that she wants to see the end of 17 years of SNP failure, which have left Scotland’s public services crumbling. She argues the Scottish people deserve a government which will deliver on their priorities – securing jobs and economic growth and improving schools and health care – rather than being obsessed with constitutional reform.

Liz says she wants a Conservative Party Leader in Westminster who will deliver for Scotland – someone who believes that unionism is indivisible from conservatism and who will fight to protect the Union. 

She knows that Tom is the only person who can do this and that he is the only candidate who has taken the time, over many years, to get to know Scotland whilst on regular visits and also whilst meeting members and local associations. 

Following his public services speech in London today, she commends him for having a conservative vision which will benefit every nation in the United Kingdom. Tom called for a bold new approach to public services that empowers professionals to innovate and boost productivity, rather than be stifled by centralisation and bureaucracy. Liz strongly supports this and the need to prioritise individuals and choice – qualities the SNP has stripped from Scottish public services.

It is very clear from the most recent analysis from both the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Fraser of Allander Institute that the SNP has to bear most of the responsibility for the financial pressures facing Scotland. As a result, Scots now face emergency cuts to SNP spending and the prospect of public services falling further behind those in the rest of the UK.

Liz argues Tom is the only one who can stand up for her conservatism, just as he has done in Parliament. Whether it was voting against Covid vaccine passports or not supporting the National Insurance rise.

Tom has always kept his promise to deliver for the people of Britain, which Liz highlights as a reason for her endorsement. Before Parliament, he served in military operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan to keep the Union safe. Tom also was the first to warn of the threats from Russian, China and Iran. And, as Security Minister, he introduced the National Security Act which oversaw the arrest and charging of more Russian and Chinese spies than in the previous decade.

As someone with a clear vision on how to fix public services and unite the Party, Liz believes Tom as Leader will be an electoral asset for the Scottish Conservatives at the next 2026 Holyrood elections. Scotland deserves better and Tom will take the Scottish Conservatives and Scotland into a new era. 

Responding to Tom Tugendhat’s speech, Liz Smith CBE MSP said: ““After 17 years, the SNPs obsession with unnecessary constitutional debates has resulted in a record of failure that keeps growing.

“Because of their mismanagement Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the UK when it comes to economic growth and we have plummeted down international educational rankings and our healthcare system is struggling.

“On top of this record of failure, hard working Scots now pay more income tax than in any other part of the United Kingdom. They now face the prospect of deep spending cuts and more tax rises after the Scottish Fiscal Commission said the SNP bears most of the responsibility for the financial pressures Scotland now faces.

“Now is the time to provide strong, united leadership based on truly conservative principles of lower taxes and public service which puts the public first.

“Tom knows what it will take to transform public services – by offering a new approach that prioritises individuals and choice. This is exactly what Scotland and our Union needs – public services focussed on delivering for individuals and their families rather than on unnecessary centralisation and bureaucracy.”

Welcoming Liz Smith CBE MSP’s support, Tom Tugendhat said: “Liz is right – we need a new approach to public services throughout the Union. And it is a privilege to have her endorsement to be the next Leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party. 

“It is an honour to now have over a third of the Conservative Scottish Party endorsing me. 

“I fought for all nations in this Union in Afghanistan and Iraq and in Parliament, this has never and will never change.

“A key part of why I am a Conservative is that I know unionism is indivisible from conservatism. As the Conservative Leader, I promise to always fight for the Union and deliver on the priorities of the Scottish people.”

Two more Tory MSPs endorse Tom Tugendhat to be Conservative Leader

  • Two more Scottish MSPs announce they are endorsing Tom Tugendhat’s bid to become the next Leader of the Conservative Party
  • They argue that they’re supporting Tom because he understands the challenges facing Scotland including those around food and energy security, rural communities, and Scotland’s farmers and fishing industries
  • Joining the eight Conservative MSPs who endorsed Tugendhat earlier this week, demonstrating the strength of support he’s building across Scotland

Two more Members of the Scottish Parliament – Brian Whittle MSP and Alexander Stewart MSP – have announced that they are backing Shadow Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat MP to be the next Leader of the Conservative Party, bringing his total MSP support to 10.

Reiterating their colleagues’ comments, the two MSPs said they want to see an end to 17 years of nationalist SNP rule that has led to failing public services and a government distracted by unnecessary constitutional debates. Scotland needs a government that serves the Scottish people and delivers on their priorities. They believe Tom is the only candidate who will help deliver this. 

Celebrating Tom’s passion for Scotland and the wider Union, they said that he is the only candidate who has spent the time needed to understand the challenges facing Scotland, including those surrounding energy security, fisheries, farming and rural communities. Likewise, he is the only candidate who has taken the time to meet with Scottish Conservative Party members, regularly campaign in the country and attend Scottish Conservative Party Conference multiple times. 

The MSPs explained they wanted someone who would not only protect and fight for the Union, but understood that if Scotland fails, everyone across the United Kingdom would feel the consequences. With Tugendhat as Leader, they argue they would always have a champion for the Union – and the priorities of Scotland – at the helm in Westminster.

As a soldier, Tugendhat spent over 10 years keeping the entire United Kingdom safe before entering Parliament. He was one of the first MPs to warn about the threat of Russia and China. As Security Minister, he was responsible for the National Security Act, which resulted in Britain arresting and charging more Russian and Chinese spies in his time as Minister than in the previous decade.

The MSPs said they were supporting Tom as they know he will deliver for the Scottish people, ensuring energy security and economic rejuvenation, and support rural communities, including Scotland’s cherished farming and fishing industries. 

Tom recognises that the Conservative Party has been undermined by infighting and factionalism in Westminster, which led to a failure to deliver and a breakdown in trust with the public. He has made it clear that this leadership election is about choice. A choice between drawing a line under the infighting and a future focused on uniting the Party and rebuilding it around core Conservative values. He argues that people across the United Kingdom deserve better and as Leader of the Conservative Party, he promised to rebuild our party, regain trust and beat Labour at the next election.

The MSPs outlined that they want a leader who will end the infighting in Westminster and return the Party to traditional conservative values, something Tugendhat has always fought for, including when he voted against Covid vaccine passports and did not support the National Insurance rise.

 They also believe the Scottish people rejected the SNP in a sign they want to move on from the independence debate and want their government to focus on delivery. As a man who delivers on his promises and can unite the party, the MSPs argue thatTom will be an electoral asset for the Scottish Conservatives at the next 2026 Holyrood elections. They believe Scotland deserves better and that Tugendhat will take the Scottish Conservatives and Scotland into a new era. 

In a joint statement, Brian Whittle MSP and Alexander Stewart MSP said: “We are proud to join eight of our Conservative MSP colleagues who are endorsing Tom Tugendhat to be the next Leader of the UK Conservative Party. 

“Together with our colleagues, we represent all parts of the Scottish Party and recognise the need to have a Conservative Leader at the helm in Westminster who not only champions our successes, but also recognises that if any part of the Union fails, we all fail. 

“Tom is that Leader. He is a man of principle, service and duty. Someone who says what he will do, then gets it done. Someone who knows that Scottish people deserve more, who will champion our nation and is an asset to the Party in Scotland. He understands the challenges our nation faces and will offer real solutions. 

“The journey ahead of us is immense. But, this is our opportunity to reset our Party under a new leader who can take the fight to the SNP. Under Tom’s leadership, we can win the hearts and minds of the Scottish people at the Holyrood elections in 2026 and local elections the following year.”

Welcoming the MSPs’ support, Tom Tugendhat said: “It is an absolute privilege to have Brian and Alexander backing me to be the next Leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party. 

“I am thrilled to have their support, along with  8 of their Conservative MSP colleagues, who announced their support for me earlier this week.  

“Unionism is indivisible from Conservatism and as the Conservative Leader, I promise to always fight for the Union and deliver on the priorities of the Scottish people.”

And then there were eight …

Outsider falls before the first hurdle as race to become Conservative Party leader gets underway

EIGHT candidates will battle it out to become the next Conservative Party leader – and our new Prime Minister – as voting gets under way this afternoon.

Each of the candidates was able to get the minimum twenty signatures required to take part in the contest and the competition now gets under way in earnest.

One hopeful who didn’t make it was little-known backbencher Rehman Chishti, who failed to get the required number of nominations.

Cabinet ministers Dominic Raab and Grant Shapps chose not to stand, instead attending Rishi Sanak’s campaign launch. Other big names not putting themselves forward to be the next Prime Minister are Priti Patel, Michael Gove and Sajid Javid, although all three will be keen to influence the outcome of the contest.

The candidates are: Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman, Jeremy Hunt, Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Tom Tugendhat and Nadhim Zahawi.

They now have to secure 30 votes in the first round today to stay in the race. Voting opens at 1.30pm with the result expected just after 5pm.

Further votes will then take place over the coming days to whittle the number of candidates down to a final two. Conservative Party members across the country will then choose between this final pair over the summerand the winner is expected to be announced on 5 September before parliament resumes after the summer recess.

Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak seems certain to be one of the final two, but at this stage it is far from clear who his final opponent is going to be.

5pm UPDATE:

Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and current Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi have been eliminated after today’s vote.

The six remaining candidates will do it all again tomorrow.

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