This article appears as part of the Unspun: Scottish Politics newsletter.

Holyrood is broken. It is failing an entire generation of young Scots.

Eight years an MSP and many a front bench job on, I say this without glee. The quality of debate, inability to hold ministers to account, rushed legislation, pointless motions, symbolic votes which do nothing to improve Scots’ lives and tribal warfare blaming everything on everyone else. It also erased one million Scottish ‘Leave’ voters from its entire narrative.

In this lethargic, unenthusiastic political landscape the Scottish Conservatives must earn the trust of the next generation of voters.  

We have had our ups and downs for sure, but we have a duty to restore some optimism to political discourse. With a talented crew of 31 MSPs that’s a huge responsibility, yet we are a drifting ship surviving political storms. I’ve had enough of the language of defeat. So yes, I am standing as leader of my party and credit to anyone else who does. 

Pitching to win a leadership contest however is not the same as pitching to govern. Winning over party membership is not the same as winning over voters. I want to return to Holyrood in 2026 flanked by 30 colleagues, and then some, but that will not happen unless something radical occurs. So here’s my somewhat unconventional pitch.   

I plan to take the Scottish Conservatives to a new level. A unified team of ministers in waiting, a raft of pragmatic policies which resonate with voters, and trust rebuilt in a brand which has taken a battering. A proposition which the next generation of Scots will vote for.

Doing nothing is not an option. Yes, taking risks is scary, but necessary. We have a fundamental choice; will we be the party of eternal opposition, or will we lay the foundations for Scotland’s first centre-right government? Any prospective leader promising gold will deliver brass. People will sit round the table and do deals with the party I lead. That’s how you achieve power in a proportional voting system. 

Read more:

Unspun | I'm a Tory MSP – my party needs a 'radical overhaul' to win back voters

The success of centre-right governments is that they appeal to voters from the centre out, not the other way around. 

In a crowded race of aspiring leaders, let me reality check: We are losing voters to Reform, to Labour, and to not turning out. Which means we have three urgent tasks in hand, requiring a team effort to deliver. 

First, fix politics! Holyrood is weak, but doesn't have to be. It needs a radical shakeup of protocol and scrutiny. It must up its game to prove that devolution works. We ought to debate robustly, make our cases fervently and compromise tactically. That's not weakness, that's power. Surely all parties yearn for a shot at government. 

Second, fix our party! Change is a verb, a doing word. We need to grow our membership and attract new talent. Our associations are upset, I don’t blame them, so build them from the bottom up, not the top down. Our leader’s office must be crammed with talent, govern with respect and emanate a sense of purpose and inclusivity. That hasn't been the case for some time, and everybody knows it.  

Third, fix Scotland! You cannot change a country unless you run it. After 17 long SNP years Scotland cries out for change, but we cannot let Labour be it simply by default. We have better ideas, plans and talent, we just have a problem selling it all. Success, growth and aspiration, those perennial centre-right principles, are needed now more than ever. 

I want to see a business startup revolution the likes of which we haven’t fostered in decades. One which catapults young Scots into the Avant-Garde of the world's digital economies. The McTiger must be unleashed and both of Scotland’s governments must make it happen. Through tax incentives at all levels, funding young entrepreneurs, kickstarting and seed funding tech hubs and clusters, harnessing our renewables, nuclear, pharma, aviation, space and gaming sectors. The SNP lack economic ambition for our country, we are unapologetically putting it front and centre. Scotland must be open for business.  

Get Scotland's top politics newsletter straight to your inbox.


Fixing education, our universities rely on overseas revenue and our colleges are skint. I was Shadow Education Secretary and saw this coming. 

Fixing our broken transport network, replacing rusting ferries. I was Shadow Transport Secretary; I saw it coming.   

Fixing our justice system, where victims are an afterthought. As Shadow Justice Secretary; I saw that coming. 

Fixing our flunked digital skills revolution. I was shadow digital minister and saw that coming too. 

The problem is we are not in government. I can’t fix the above until we are. 

I assume nothing about this leadership contest and simply ask people to assume nothing about me either. My commitment to making life better for all Scots is a principle I am proud of. The next generation needs hope, humility and decency in their political leaders. I humbly offer those. 

Jamie Greene is a Scottish Conservative MSP for the West Scotland region.