View source for August 2020 Scottish Conservatives leadership election

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = August 2020 Scottish Conservative Party leadership election
| country = Scotland
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = February 2020 Scottish Conservatives leadership election
| previous_year = February 2020
| next_election = 2024 Scottish Conservatives leadership election
| next_year = 2024
| election_date = 5 August 2020
| 1blank = Popular vote
| image1 = [[File:Official portrait of Douglas Ross MP crop 2.jpg|130px]]
| candidate1 = '''[[Douglas Ross (Scottish politician)|Douglas Ross]]'''
| colour1 =
| 1data1 = '''''Unopposed'''''
| title = Leader
| before_election = [[Jackson Carlaw]]
| after_election = [[Douglas Ross (Scottish politician)|Douglas Ross]]
}}
The '''August 2020 Scottish Conservative Party leadership election''' was the fifth internal party election to elect the next leader of the [[Scottish Conservatives]], part of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|British Conservative Party]] and the second-largest political party in the devolved [[Scottish Parliament]].
[[Douglas Ross (Scottish politician)|Douglas Ross]] was announced as Leader on 5 August 2020 after running unopposed.<ref name="rossunopposed">{{cite web |title=Douglas Ross confirmed as Scottish Conservative leader |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-53655975 |website=[[BBC News Online|BBC News]] |accessdate=5 August 2020 |date=5 August 2020}}</ref>
== Background ==
On 30 July 2020, [[Jackson Carlaw]] resigned as leader of the Scottish Conservatives after he said that he wasn't the right person to lead Scotland's voice in the union.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-07-30|title=Carlaw quits as Scottish Conservative leader|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-53601518|access-date=2020-07-30}}</ref> At the time, support for Scottish independence was rising and the SNP had a substantial lead in the polls ahead of the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wood |first=Vincent |date=2020-07-30|title=Scottish Tory leader resigns after just five months|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jackson-carlaw-resign-scottish-tory-leader-independence-referendum-a9646521.html|access-date=2020-07-30|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Vevers |first=Dan |date=2020-07-30 |title=Sturgeon pays tribute to Carlaw after he steps down |url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/sturgeon-pays-tribute-to-carlaw-after-he-steps-down |access-date=2020-07-31 |website=STV News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
The previous leader of the Scottish Conservatives, [[Ruth Davidson]], agreed to represent the party at First Minister's Questions until a replacement leader was chosen, and until the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]] if the new leader was not a current MSP, at which point she would stand down to take up her seat in the House of Lords.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-07-31|title=Ruth Davidson to join House of Lords|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-53615029|access-date=2020-07-31}}</ref>
== Campaign ==
[[Douglas Ross (Scottish politician)|Douglas Ross]], the Member of Parliament (MP) for [[Moray (UK Parliament constituency)|Moray]] confirmed his intention to run for the leadership on 31 July. He was immediately endorsed by Ruth Davidson, a former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, and the former [[Secretary of State for Scotland|Scottish Secretary]] [[David Mundell]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite tweet |last=Mundell |first=David |author-link=David Mundell |user=DavidMundellDCT |number=1289155476693954566 |date=31 July 2020 |title=I’m backing @Douglas4Moray to be leader of @ScotTories He’s already shown he can take the fight to the SNP and stand up for our United Kingdom. |access-date=31 July 2020 }}</ref> Ross also said he intended to stand as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) on the [[Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Highlands and Islands]] regional list if elected, while continuing to represent Moray in [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|Westminster]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-07-31|title=Douglas Ross to stand for Scottish Tory leadership|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-53608498|access-date=2020-07-31}}</ref> Carlaw said that Ross's election should not be contested.<ref name=":1"/>
== Candidates ==
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Candidate
!Born
!Political office
!Campaign
! class=unsortable | Ref.
|- <!-- Douglas Ross -->
|[[File:Official portrait of Douglas Ross MP crop 2.jpg|100px]]<br />'''[[Douglas Ross (Scottish politician)|Douglas Ross]]'''
|{{dts|1983|1|27|format=dmy}}<br />(age {{age nts|1983|1|27}})
|'''[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] for [[Moray (UK Parliament constituency)|Moray]]'''  {{small|(since 2017)}}<br />[[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]] for [[Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Highlands and Islands]] {{small|(2016–2017)}}<br /> [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland]] {{small|(2019–2020)}}<br />
|[[File:DouglasRossLeadership2020Logo.jpg|100px]]<br />[https://web.archive.org/web/20210615201631/https://douglasrossforleader.com/ Campaign]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Douglas Ross rumoured to take over as Jackson Carlaw quits as Scots Tory leader|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/18618567.douglas-ross-rumoured-take-jackson-carlaw-quits/|access-date=2020-07-30|website=The National|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Hay|first1=Katharine|date=31 July 2020|title=Douglas Ross 'likely' to stand as a candidate for leader of Scottish Conservatives following Jackson Carlaw's resignation|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/douglas-ross-likely-stand-candidate-leader-scottish-conservatives-following-jackson-carlaws-resignation-2929421|accessdate=31 July 2020|website=[[Edinburgh Evening News]]}}</ref>
|}
== Timeline ==
* 30 July: [[Jackson Carlaw]] resigns as leader of the Scottish Conservatives.
* 31 July: [[Douglas Ross (Scottish politician)|Douglas Ross]] declares his intention to stand as leader.
* 5 August: Nominations close, [[Douglas Ross (Scottish politician)|Douglas Ross]] is declared leader as no other candidates declared.<ref name="rossunopposed" />
== Endorsements ==
=== Douglas Ross ===
'''MSPs'''
* [[Jackson Carlaw]], former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, MSP for [[Eastwood (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Eastwood]]<ref name=":1" />
* [[Ruth Davidson]], former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, MSP for [[Edinburgh Central (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Central]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2020-07-31|title=Scottish Tories urged to let Douglas Ross run for the leadership unopposed|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/scotland/scottish-tories-jackson-carlaw-quits-douglas-ross-leadership-568380|access-date=2020-07-31|website=inews.co.uk|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Michelle Ballantyne]], MSP for [[South Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|South Scotland]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hutcheon|first=Paul|date=2020-07-31|title=Douglas Ross could win Scottish Tory leadership without a contest|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/douglas-ross-could-win-scots-22450185|access-date=2020-07-31|website=dailyrecord|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Adam Tomkins]], MSP for [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Douglas Ross secures backing of key Tory MSPs amid Scottish Conservative leadership bid|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18621440.douglas-ross-secures-backing-key-tory-msps-amid-scottish-conservative-leadership-bid/|access-date=2020-07-31|website=HeraldScotland|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Annie Wells (politician)|Annie Wells]], MSP for [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Endorsements – Douglas Ross for Leader|url=https://douglasrossforleader.com/endorsements/|access-date=2020-08-01|language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[Alison Harris]], MSP for [[Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Central Scotland]]<ref name=":2" />
* [[Maurice Golden]], MSP for [[West Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|West Scotland]]<ref name=":2" />
* [[Gordon Lindhurst]], MSP for [[Lothians (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Lothian]]<ref name=":2" />
* [[Oliver Mundell]], MSP for [[Dumfriesshire (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Dumfriesshire]]<ref name=":2" />
* [[John Scott (MSP)|John Scott]], MSP for [[Ayr (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Ayr]]<ref name=":2" />
* [[Brian Whittle]], MSP for [[South Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|South Scotland]]<ref name=":2" />
* [[Margaret Mitchell (Scottish politician)|Margaret Mitchell]], MSP for [[Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Central Scotland]]<ref name=":2" />
'''MPs'''
* [[Andrew Bowie (politician)|Andrew Bowie]] MP for [[West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (UK Parliament constituency)|West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Merson|first=Adele|title=North-east MP claims Douglas Ross's leadership would mark 'real positive' for region|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/2378315/north-east-mp-claims-douglas-rosss-leadership-would-mark-real-positive-for-region/|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Press and Journal|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[John Lamont]], MP for [[Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency)|Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk]]<ref name=":0" />
* [[David Duguid (politician)|David Duguid]], MP for [[Banff and Buchan (UK Parliament constituency)|Banff and Buchan]]<ref name=":2" />
== See also ==
*[[February 2020 Scottish Conservative Party leadership election]]
*[[Next Scottish Parliament election|2021 Scottish Parliament election]]
== References ==
<references />
{{Scottish Conservative Party leadership elections}}
{{2020 United Kingdom party elections}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scottish Conservative Party leadership election, 2020 08}}
[[Category:Scottish Conservatives leadership elections|2020 08]]
[[Category:2020 elections in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:August 2020 events in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:2020 in Scotland]]
[[Category:2020s elections in Scotland]]
[[Category:2020 political party leadership elections|Scottish Conservatives leadership election 2020 08]]