Mark is an editor of Tory Hoose. He is the 2012 Council Candidate Drum Brae/Gyle ward, Edinburgh and was the 2011 Holyrood Candidate for Uddingston and Bellshill. Follow Mark on Twitter Read more from this author

Central Scotland MSP Margaret Mitchell has today thrown her hat into the Scottish Conservative Leadership Election with an 11th hour bid.

Speaking exclusively to Tory Hoose, Mitchell commented that on receiving over 150 nominations in under 48 hours, a “collective sigh of relief” had been heard amongst members that they “no longer had a quandary over who to vote for”.

Mitchell told us earlier today, “In terms of my bid for the Leadership, I wanted to wait to see if any of the Candidates were actually representative of the views of both myself and the vast majority of the membership of the Party.  I feel that they haven’t offered anything different. ”

Speaking of her 48 hour nomination dash, Mitchell commented “During the last couple of days, I have been hearing collective sighs of relief from those in the Party who now have a voice that represents their vision of Scottish Conservatism.  They have been telling me that they no longer have a quandary over who to vote for.  I will deliver my manifesto on what I will bring to the Party if elected at my forthcoming Launch and the Members will have a chance to listen to my plans tomorrow at the Hustings in Inverness.

She added, “It’s now time to stand up and be counted and listen to the people.  Politics is all about people.”

Details of her formal launch will be announced soon and Mitchell will join Murdo Fraser, Ruth Davidson and Jackson Carlaw on the stage in Inverness tomorrow at Round 1 of the Leadership Hustings Roadshow.  Tory Hoose will be there for the views, news and interviews.