DOUGLAS Ross has reshuffled his frontbench with two of the party's most senior MSPs losing their roles in his top team.
Stephen Kerr was dropped as education spokesman from Mr Ross's group of shadow ministers and replaced by Liam Kerr, who was the party's spokesman on net zero, energy and transport.
Jamie Greene was sacked as the party's justice spokesman and succeeded by the MSP who was his deputy, former investigative journalist Russell Findlay. Mr Findlay, who was first elected to Holyrood in 2021, is now being tipped as a future party leader.
It his understood Mr Greene's support for the Scottish Goverment Gender Recognition Reform Bill played a role in his removal from his post.
The Scottish Conservatives allowed its group of MSPs a free vote on the bill during its Holyrood passage in December, but Mr Greene's vocal backing for the legislation is said to have raised eyebrows in the party.
Scottish Conservative MSP Jamie Greene voted for the gender recognition reform bill in December. Photo PA.
In a statement this afternoon Mr Greene said disagreements within the party should be tolerated.
He added that "pride is something to celebrate, not hide away" as he wrote of his disappointment at losing the role and his wish to stand up for his principles.
The West Scotland MSP was one of the three Tory MSPs to vote for the gender recognition legislation which was passed at Holyrood last year before being blocked by the UK Government.
While Mr Greene did not explicitly link this to the reshuffle, he said he would "uncompromisingly" stick to his beliefs.
Mr Kerr, who is the MSP for Central Scotland, took up the education brief in September last year after previously being the party's chief whip at Holyrood.
Alexander Burnett took over the chief whip role from Mr Kerr and remains in the post.
Mr Kerr was convener of Holyrood’s education committee between June 2021 and May 2022 after being elected to the Scottish Parliament for the first time that May.
He was previously a Scottish Conservative MP for Stirling from 2017 to 2019, losing his seat to the SNP's Alyn Smith.
Mr Kerr is now hoping to return to Westminster and yesterday announced that he had been selected as the party's candidate for Angus and Perthshire Glens at the next General Election.
The move may see him up against the SNP's longest serving MP Pete Wishart.
The changes also see Douglas Lumsden move to take up Liam Kerr's former brief of net zero, energy and transport and MP and former Scottish Secretary David Mundell appointed in charge of the party's election campaign.
Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr. Photo Getty.
Liz Smith retains her position as finance spokeswoman but with the additional responsibility of local government.
Sandesh Gulhane remains health spokesman and Donald Cameron stays in the constitution, external affairs and culture brief.
Rachael Hamilton retains responsibility for rural affairs and the islands, but Miles Briggs takes on her equalities role in a rejigged post which includes social security and his former area of housing.
Murdo Fraser takes on the role of business, economic growth and tourism spokesman.
Announcing his reshuffle, Mr Ross said: “I’m delighted to announce this new shadow ministerial line-up, which underlines the formidable talent and strength in depth among the team of Scottish Conservative MSPs.
“I would like to put on record my huge thanks to those who are stepping down from the team, or switching roles, for their sterling work.
“This is a key juncture in Scottish politics, and I’m convinced this new line-up will expose Humza Yousaf’s hopelessly divided and distracted SNP Government.
"The Scottish Conservatives will continue to focus relentlessly on the people’s real priorities – like the global cost-of-living crisis and NHS waiting times – while the nationalists double down on their independence obsession to deflect attention from their appalling record and internal scandals.”
The new shadow ministerial team is as follows:
Leader – Douglas Ross
Deputy Leader – Meghan Gallacher
Party Chairman – Craig Hoy
Deputy Chairwoman – Pam Gosal
Chief Whip – Alexander Burnett
Deputy Chief Whip – Annie Wells
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government – Liz Smith
Deputy – Pam Gosal
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Business, Economic Growth and Tourism – Murdo Fraser
Deputy – Brian Whittle
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care – Sandesh Gulhane
Deputy – Tess White
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills – Liam Kerr
Deputy – Roz McCall
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport – Douglas Lumsden
Deputy – Graham Simpson
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice – Russell Findlay
Deputy – Sharon Dowey
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Security, Housing and Equalities – Miles Briggs
Deputy – Jeremy Balfour
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Islands – Rachael Hamilton
Deputy – Jamie Halcro Johnson
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture – Donald Cameron
Deputy – Alexander Stewart
Also, as the party prepares for the 2024 General Election, David Mundell MP has been appointed as Chairman of Election Campaign Coordination.
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