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Murdo Fraser has released the following statement after four candidates were confirmed in the race to be the next leader of the Scottish Conservative Party.

Murdo’s statement in full:

“I can now officially welcome my three colleagues in the leadership contest and I wish them well on the campaign trail ahead.

“I would like to thank all my supporters who have backed my campaign through signing my nomination papers and thank the hundreds of members who have emailed, phoned and written to me over the past few weeks since I launched my leadership campaign. It is an honour to have received such strong support from members and I will use this goodwill to fight a positive campaign to see a better future for our party.

“This is the first time in decades that our party is having a proper debate about its future. I will continue to set out the case for transforming the Scottish Conservatives into a new, stronger centre-right party for Scotland to stand up for the interests of people in Scotland credibly and effectively and to continue to explain why remaining within the United Kingdom is very much in Scotland’s interests. Such a change would be good for Scottish politics, good for Scotland and good for the future of the United Kingdom.”

Murdo is joined by Jackson Carlaw, Ruth Davidson and Margaret Mitchell. Ballot papers will be issued on 13th October with the results being announced on November 4th.