Fraser should reflect on his own record before attacking party, says Lamont
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Scottish Conservative & Unionist MSP John Lamont hit back today after leadership hopeful Murdo Fraser claimed the party was in danger of suffering the same fate as Tommy Sheridan’s Scottish Socialists.
Mr Lamont, who is campaign manager for leadership contender Ruth Davidson MSP, said he was ‘surprised and dismayed’ that Mr Fraser seemed determined to bin the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party and insult hard working candidates and activists across Scotland.
He said: ‘Murdo has been a Conservative MSP since 2001 and deputy leader of our party since 2005. No one is disputing that the party has been in serious decline, but surely as the deputy leader he has to accept some responsibility for what has happened.
Today Mr Lamont said: ‘Murdo is using a lot of statistics to try to make his case. Perhaps Murdo should reflect upon his own performance against that of the Party over the same period. John Scott MSP, Alex Fergusson MSP and myself have demonstrated that we can win as Scottish Conservatives and Unionists.
‘Murdo’s solution of disbanding the party and suing for divorce from the rest of the movement is not the answer. We need the generational change that can be offered by Ruth Davidson.
Only she can offer a fresh approach that will reach out to modern Scotland without demolishing the very foundations on which our party was built.’
Notes to Editors/political correspondents:
The following graph http://toryhoose.com/files/Murdo%20vs%20SCUP.XLS compares Murdo Fraser’s personal vote in the last three Scottish Parliament elections with that of the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party overall.
John, you should consider your own candidate’s performance. She didn’t even win her rankings and only became an MSP due to the misfortune of the first preferred candidate. Heck, she was 12 points away from being third placed – behind a guy that didn’t even turn up to the regional rankings’ hustings.
Even after that, in a regional campaign where Ruth was the sole candidate promoted to the exclusion from everyone else, her vote went down.
Perhaps you should consider that before using intemperate language against someone who is supposed to be a colleague.
Your point would stand if you were the candidate for leadership. If one’s own success in his/her own election is key, why did you stand aside for Ruth?
Regards,
Andrew
PS: Murdo’s vote decreased by 2.6% at May 2011′s election according to Scotland Votes:
http://www.scotlandvotes.com/holyrood/2011-profiles/perthshire-north
Beats the national trend – which was -2.7%.
This is a factual inaccuracy which I am sure was unintentional.
Can somebody please explain to me the actual policy differences between Murdo Fraser and the other candidates for the the leadership of the the Scottish Conservatives? To a nationalist with conservative instincts, like myself, it appears that Fraser might be advocating a more ‘independent’ position from the UK party for the Scottish Tory party and possibly a move toward the nationalists end of the constiutional scale for Scotland/
The language seems to be in code so outsiders cannot follow. This is a mistake.
May I give the Scottish Conservatives a bit of advice. Have a proper open and honest debate during your leadership campaign. Most importantly, ask yourselves as Scots about the union, not only that union between Scotland and England but the union of conservatism and unionism. Is it a prerequisite of being a Scot that believes in conservative values?
There are many natural conservative voters in Scotland that are voting SNP to achieve the ultimate prize.