Fraser should reflect on his own record before attacking party, says Lamont

September 25, 2011   Tory Hoose   No comments

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.

 

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Jackson Carlaw: Fraser’s ‘power point’ presentation is sadly an own goal

September 25, 2011   Tory Hoose   No comments

Plans to ‘disband’ the Party hit a brick wall with Members at Inverness Leadership Hustings

Following the first national Hustings of the Leadership campaign held in Inverness, Murdo Fraser has issued a power point presentation in an attempt to overcome his inability to either reassure or explain his plans convincingly to members.

However, at the heart of his presentation is polling evidence, which shows that some 56% think a change of name will either have a negative effect or make no difference to voting intentions whatsoever. The findings are reflected equally in men and women and crucially are even more sceptical among voters aged 35 and older who are traditionally likely to vote in greater numbers.

Jackson Carlaw MSP said

‘It is clear that despite daily media releases from Murdo telling us that he has widespread support for his plans to create a new Party, they hit a spectacular brick wall in Inverness yesterday.

Ever since these proposals were first announced they have been ‘the elephant in the room’. Yesterday, Murdo failed to convince members of his case and to use his own words, he ‘needs to get real’ about his situation.

Today Annabel Goldie MSP has joined those rejecting his proposals.

Studying this presentation it is clear that my own view is in line with the vast majority of members. A superficial change of name will make no difference and is in any event, both divisive and a huge distraction. We would be navel gazing for at least 18 months with no guarantee that Murdo’s plans would even then be approved and all while Alex Salmond plots to break up the Union.

What is needed is a change in substance; a change in the face of the Party, a strategy to develop and adopt election winning policies and an election winning organisation to support them.

Instead of focusing on new logos and letterheads, we need to focus on the defence of the Union – Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom and the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party’s place in the UK Conservative Party,

A strong Scotland in a great Britain.’

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Murdo Fraser: “Time to get real about our situation”

September 25, 2011   Tory Hoose   No comments

Leadership candidate Murdo Fraser has released the presentation http://toryhoose.com/files/Murdo%20Fraser%20Presentation.pdf  he will give at rallies around Scotland for the remainder of the election campaign.

The presentation shows that the Scottish Conservative vote has halved since 1997, which many still wrongly believe to be the party’s all-time low.  It predicts that, if  the party continues to lose regional list votes at the same rate as it has been since 1999, the party will be reduced to under 7% of the vote in just over 10 years – the same vote share as Tommy Sheridan’s SSP achieved in 2003.

Murdo said:

“I have been an activist for our party for 25 years.  I, and thousands of members like me, have worked tirelessly for decades for this party.  The least the members deserve is to know the unvarnished, unspun truth about the state we’re in.

“The reality is that, despite having popular and effective leaders such as Annabel Goldie and David McLetchie, we go backwards at every election.  We have lost well over 100,000 votes since devolution, and if our trend goes on we will be reduced to a rump like the Greens and the SSP used to be.

“Our party has an identity problem.  Despite good leaders and good policies, many centre-right Scots don’t vote for us because they don’t think we stand up  for their interests.

“It’s time to get real about our situation.  It’s time we stopped pulling the wool over the eyes of our members by pretending everything is going to get better if we simply shout louder.  What do the candidates in this election think is going to make them more successful than Annabel without any form of radical change?

“None of the candidates in this election, including me, can steer this ship back to success.  A new captain is not enough.  We need a new ship.”

 

 

 

 

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Fraser delivered blow as ‘backer’ pulls out of support list

September 24, 2011   Tory Hoose   No comments

Alan Donnelly, Councillor in Aberdeen Council’s Torry and Ferryhill ward has asked for his name to be removed from a list of backers for Murdo Fraser’s bid for Leadership as he still remained ‘undecided’ on Fraser’s vision for the Scottish Conservatives.

Fraser’s campaign manager, Liz Smith MSP, said there had been a misunderstanding. “Mr Donnelly sent an e-mail in which he apologised for any confusion.  He had previously implied that he was supportive of Murdo Fraser, but he wanted to keep his opinions until after the hustings.  We gave him a guarantee that his name would be removed from the list.”

Donnelly said, “I think it is good that we are having a healthy debate among the party – all that is positive – but I am undeclared at this stage.”

This is the second blow for the Leadership hopeful following the Tory Hoose exit poll at the Inverness Leadership Hustings which saw Fraser finish last in the ‘Performance on the Podium’ battle.

 

 

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Carlaw takes ‘Performance on the Podium’ plaudits at inaugural Leadership Hustings

September 24, 2011   Mark Brown   1 Comment

All roads lead to the idyllic setting of Kessock Bridge in the Highland Capital of Inverness on Saturday for the inaugural Scottish Conservatives Leadership Hustings.

(Click to enlarge pic)

The four Leadership hopefuls of Jackson Carlaw, Ruth Davidson, Margaret Mitchell and Murdo Fraser were questioned by the 90 members in the Kessock Town Hall as they set out their stall for the first time in what is now the nitty-gritty business end of the Leadership race.

Following a great morning of debate during the Highland Conference and a terrific lunch laid on by the organisers, the Candidates drew lots under the watchful eye of Tory Hoose and Director of the Party in Scotland, Mark McInnes as to who would speak first.

The Hustings took a somewhat unusual format.  One was expecting a Question Time style debate however the format was that of a Q&A session with the Candidates on an individual basis, with each allowed 7 minutes to deliver their vision as Leader if elected followed by questions from the floor.

Tory Hoose were Live Blogging from the event and you can re-live the debate here:  http://www.toryhoose.com/2011/09/leadership-hustings-inverness-live-blog/

After the Candidates had endured their grilling, an exit poll of Scottish Conservative party members in attendance was conducted by Tory Hoose.

The poll asked 33 of the present 90 members at the hustings in Inverness who they would be supporting based solely on their ‘performance on
the podium’. Jackson Carlaw gained 57% of the votes with 19, with Ruth Davidson second on 9 votes and 27%.

The poll will be disappointing news for Murdo Fraser who picked up just 2 votes, behind Margaret Mitchell’s 3 votes, despite Mrs Mitchell only being in the contest for 72 hours.

So, a turn up perhaps for the books based on the exclusive Tory Hoose poll that closed on Friday, showing Murdo Fraser narrowly in the lead followed by Ruth.  With the introduction of Margaret Mitchell at the 11th hour, an exciting Leadership Race just became a little bit more interesting….

The Candidates can bask in their glory or lick their wounds over the next week or so before they go head to head again at the National Party Conference in Manchester on Monday 3rd October.  Tory Hoose will once again be there to cover all the action.

The winner will be announced on November 4th.

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Leadership Hustings, Inverness – Live Blog

September 24, 2011   Tory Hoose   1 Comment
hustings-live

Welcome to our live coverage of the first leadership hustings from Inverness. We’ll be live blogging (not logging…) and tweeting from the hustings. You can tweet us on @toryhoose or use the hashtag #toryidol2011 and we will feature a selection of your comments.

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Murdo Fraser Welcomes 4 Way Fight For Leadership

September 23, 2011   Tory Hoose   No comments
murdo-fraser

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.

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DAVIDSON WELCOMES FOUR-HORSE RACE AND LOOKS FORWARD TO BATTLE AHEAD

September 23, 2011   Tory Hoose   No comments
ruth-davidson

After securing the necessary 100-plus nominations, Ms Davidson said a four-horse race would give party members a genuine choice in a battle that will decide the future direction of the Tories in Scotland.

‘I am delighted to be taking part in an election campaign that offers a real diversity and a broad range of ideas,’ she said. ‘I look forward to putting forward my case, my vision for the party and to vigorous debate with my three fellow contenders.’

Ms Davidson, 32, the youngest of the four candidates, has already won the support from Lords Forsyth and Sanderson as well as the backing of several other prominent Conservative politicians, including John Scott, deputy Holyrood presiding officer, John Lamont MSP and former deputy presiding office Murray Tosh.

Ruth said there was mounting support within the party for her and her mission to renew and refresh the Scottish Conservatives.

Continuing her nationwide tour of the constituencies today, she added: ‘I see it in every stop I make and every member I meet and I am greatly encouraged in my quest to lead a Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party which once again has the ability to win.

‘The Scottish Conservatives should be seen as the natural party of aspiration; the party that backs the hard- working and enterprising, and the socially conscious. I see the Scottish Conservatives as the party for Scots of all backgrounds who want safer streets, better schools, and a vibrant economy.”

“And I want the Scottish Conservatives to be the party to which voters turn to speak up for the union and Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom. It is by taking these principles forward and engaging with the people of Scotland that will lead to the Conservatives winning again. Breaking up the party or just giving it a new name will not achieve any of this. Everywhere I go, I hear members telling me they want the opportunity to elect Conservative politicians, a Conservative government and a Conservative Prime Minister. I am not going to deny them that opportunity.”

 

Ruth added: ‘This election will decide the future of our party. I am confident of my case and of my ability to lead the Scottish Conservatives and to make it a force once again.”

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Tory Hoose Poll finds Slender Lead for Murdo Fraser

September 23, 2011   Stewart Green   No comments

A Poll conducted by Tory Hoose has found a small majority in favour of Murdo Fraser as next leader of the Scottish Conservative Party.

The poll asked 655 people over the course of several weeks who they would like to see as the next leader of the Scottish Conservatives. 301 (46%) people said they would be voting for Murdo Fraser with 289 (44%) stating support for Ruth Davidson. The Third Candidate, Jackson Carlaw polled just 11% with 65 votes.

The results of the poll do not however tell the full story given that people were only asked for first preferences and the election is being conducted using the single transferable vote system.

The results of this poll show that the leadership election is far from a forgone conclusion. What is clear is that when it comes to voters on the internet, Ruth and Murdo are a long way ahead of Jackson Carlaw. It is clear that Conservatives in Scotland do not want to protect things as they are and there are quite a few supporters of Murdo’s plan for a new party. It will be interesting to see how people who didn’t take part in this poll cast their votes and indeed, how they use their other preferences.

 

FULL RESULTS:

Carlaw, Jackson – 65 votes, 11%

Davidson, Ruth – 289 voes, 44%

Fraser, Murdo – 301 votes, 46%

Total votes cast – 655

The poll was conducted between 9th September and 23rd September 2011.

 

It should be noted that the poll was conducted and closed shortly before the confirmation of Margaret Mitchell’s candidacy and therefore the results do not take into account votes for her.

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GROUP LEADERS SUPPORT MURDO AS HE LAYS OUT LOCALISM AGENDA

September 23, 2011   Tory Hoose   No comments
murdo-fraser

Leadership candidate Murdo Fraser has been given the backing of five Conservative Group Leaders in local authorities the length and breadth of Scotland.  In the letter below, Leaders of the Conservative Groups on Dumfries & Galloway, Edinburgh, Perth & Kinross, Fife and Aberdeenshire Councils outline that the people they represent are “crying out for a centre-right alternative”.

In an article to be published on ConservativeHome tomorrow in which he will outline what features our new party for Scotland will have, Murdo will talk about his localist approach to politics.  He will say:

“Alex Salmond and the SNP may believe in Scottish political sovereignty, but they certainly don’t trust people in Scotland with power.  Their sovereignty is an exclusive sovereignty where only certain politicians can exercise real power.  It would give the Scottish Government more power, but is none too keen on giving it to Scottish local authorities, communities or people.  The approach of our new party will be very different.  The devolution of power will not grind to a halt at Holyrood, but continue on ever downwards.  Such a localist approach is also in tune with a fundamental belief that the best way to improve public services is not through central command and control, but through local diversity.”

The letter signed by five key Council Group Leaders reads:

As elected Scottish Conservative Councillors and Group Leaders, we fully support Murdo Fraser’s idea to transform our party into a new, centre-right force in Scottish politics.

As people who are on the frontline of politics in communities right across Scotland, we know how many people feel frustrated and let down by local councils run by parties of the centre-left.  Parties which spend wastefully and fail to provide good, value-for-money local services.

Such people are crying out for a centre-right alternative which provides the highest quality of service at the lowest possible cost.  But despite sharing our values and supporting many of our policies, many people across Scotland simply will not countenance voting Conservative.  So we have first-hand experience of the problems our party has in connecting with people in Scotland.

We believe that a new, centre-right party with a distinct Scottish identity and policies that are made here in Scotland will be the essential first step in reconnecting with voters at the local level.  And once people learn that they can trust this new party to act in their interests and introduce policies that improve the quality of life in their local communities, we will attract new supporters from all walks of life.

This will be helped enormously by the fact that Murdo Fraser has made it clear he will put localism at the heart of this new party’s agenda.  As parties of the centre-left, both Labour and the SNP have been responsible for the centralising trend in Scottish politics.

It is high time we reversed this trend which is failing people across Scotland.  Scotland is a diverse country and we need to recognise that in the way we deliver vital public services.  That means freeing up local councils so that they can respond effectively to the differing needs and wishes of their local communities.

That is why we believe that the new, centre-right party which Murdo Fraser proposes will not only transform Scottish politics for the better, but also transform Scotland for the better.

Yours faithfully,
Cllr Jeremy Balfour, Conservative Group Leader, City of Edinburgh Council
Cllr Dave Dempsey, Conservative Group Leader, Fife Council
Cllr Marcus Humphrey, Conservative Group Leader, Aberdeenshire Council
Cllr Ivor Hyslop, Conservative Group Leader, Dumfries and Galloway Council
Cllr Alexander Stewart, Conservative Group Leader, Perth and Kinross Council

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