Eastwood MSP, Jackson Carlaw has announced that he is supporting former National Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat to be the next Leader of the UK Conservative Party.
Mr Carlaw’s endorsement means that Mr Tugendhat has the backing of more than half of Scottish Conservative MSP’s who are expected to publicly back a candidate with 15 Tory parliamentarians now supporting his campaign.
Endorsing Tom as leader, Mr Carlaw highlighted that he has regularly campaigned in Scotland, understands the challenges facing the nation and is the best placed UK leadership candidate to help end nearly two decades of SNP rule at the next Holyrood Election in May 2026.
Mr Carlaw and the other MSP’s supporting his campaign have also argued that by electing Tugendhat as UK Leader, there would always be a champion for the Union and Scotland’s priorities at the helm in Westminster.
During his time as Minister of State for Security in the Home Office, Mr Tugendhat spoke up about foreign threats from Russia, China and Iran to the Union - and he has been sanctioned by all three, as a result.
In Government, the actions he took meant more Russian and Chinese spies were arrested and charged in his time as Security Minister than in the previous decade.
Before his election to the UK Parliament in 2015, Mr Tugendhat served in the British Army for 10 years.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood, Jackson Carlaw said:
“I’m proud to have worked with Conservative Leaders for nearly five decades.
“In Tom, I recognise the passion and the conviction needed to lead our country with integrity and purpose. And in so doing, I know he will protect, defend and strengthen Scotland’s place within our United Kingdom.
“I’m backing Tom’s positive vision and decency. I’m backing our best future.”
Welcoming Mr Carlaw’s support, Tom Tugendhat MP said:
“It is humbling to receive such overwhelming backing from my friends in Scotland. Jackson is a man of service to his country and our Party. I am proud to have him in the team.
“Unionism is indivisible from Conservatism for me. As Leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party, I promise to always fight for the Union and to act in the best interest of Scotland.”