MSP launches Scottish Tory leadership bid with vow to win new voters as ‘fresh face’

SCOTTISH Tory deputy leader Meghan Gallacher today pledged a “new beginning” for the party as she threw her hat into the ring for the top job.

Ms Gallacher, 32, said the party needs a leader who is “bold, dynamic and fresh faced” as she launched her bid to win the leadership on Friday.

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And she vowed to win over Scots who have never considered voting for the Scottish Conservatives before.

In a campaign launch video, she said: “The next few weeks will be important in shaping the future of our party.

“Scotland knows what we stand against, but do they know what we stand for?

“This leadership election presents the 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.

“We need to create a modern, centre-right party that is focused on delivering for everyone in Scotland.”

Earlier this week, party bosses set out the timetable for electing a new leader, with nominations opening on August 8 and closing on August 22.

Following a series of leadership hustings, ballots will be sent to party members on September 4.

The vote will then close on September 26 before the new leader is confirmed on September 27.

Ms Gallacher becomes the third candidate to declare her intention to succeed Douglas Ross as the party’s leader after fellow MSPs Russell Findlay and Brian Whittle also confirmed they would stand.

Setting out her pitch to party members, Ms Gallacher said: “We need a leader who understands the party, who is focused on winning hearts and minds and is brave enough to tackle the big challenges our country faces.

“That’s what my leadership would deliver. We need someone who can unite the party, who can reach out to people who have never thought of voting Scottish Conservative before. I have the experience to do just that.”

Ms Gallacher said the party should focus on policies such as ensuring people can keep more of the cash they earn, helping people to buy their own property, and supporting families and pensioners across the country.

She added: “We need a leader who is bold, dynamic and fresh faced, who is proud to be Conservative.

“A leader who believes in its party and its people, that’s what I’ll deliver – a new beginning for the Scottish Conservatives.”