I Am Not The Person Best Placed To Lead The Party

Jackson Carlaw quits after less than 6 months in post

- Paul Hutcheon

Jackson Carlaw has quit as Scottish Tory leader after less than six months in the job.

The MSP walked away after admitting he is not the “person best placed” to lead his party into the next election.

A senior insider said party members and MSPs had been critical of his performance since he replaced Ruth Davidson earlier this year.

The source said there was a view he’d not been effective in holding First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to account.

South of Scotland Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne said she thinks Carlaw was forced to resign by Westminster and that there had been “no warning”.

She told BBC’s The Nine show last night: “I’m happy he’s gone. I never thought he was the right person. The push has been coming from everywhere but I suspect it was Westminster who pushed him.”