by Scottish Conservative leadership candidate Murdo Fraser has called on his two rivals to drop out of the contest so a coronation can take place.
Launching his campaign in Perth, Mr Fraser said Russell Findlay and Meghan Gallacher could “bring this sorry chapter to a close” and endorse him to unite the party.
When asked by journalists at the event if he was directly calling for Mr Findlay and Ms Gallacher to drop out of the race and allow a coronation to take place – he answered: “Yes.”
Both rival candidates have told BBC Scotland News they still intend to stand.
Mr Fraser’s comments came after Jamie Greene and Liam Kerr pulled out of the race and said they would back Mr Fraser.
Brian Whittle pulled out of the race earlier in the week, also saying he would be supporting Mr Fraser.
The Perthshire MSP will be going up against justice spokesman Mr Findlay and former deputy leader Ms Gallacher in a vote of party members.
The winner will be announced on 27 September.
‘Too much power’
Mr Fraser insisted he could win over previous SNP voters and become first minister of Scotland at some point in the future.
He told his launch event that the contest had been “fractious” and there had been “concerning claims” about the conduct of the current party leader, Douglas Ross.
“The last few weeks have proven that real change is an absolute necessity,” he said. “It is a matter of survival for our party.
“For too long in this party we have had too much power concentrated in too few hands. And now we see the effects of that.
“That has to change now.”
He added: “It is deeply dispiriting for our activists to be asked to go out and knock on doors, make phone calls and deliver leaflets, only to have the ground cut from under them because of the behaviour of a few at the top of the party who should know better.
“That has to change and under my leadership it will.”
Getty ImagesIn response to Mr Fraser’s comments, Mr Findlay said: “I’ve always been opposed to a coronation, of myself or anyone else.
“I’m standing to give our members the fair and positive contest they deserve because our party must change.
“We need fresh ideas and a new approach. That’s why I’ve set out a positive Conservative vision with policies that champion aspiration, opportunity and decency.”
He added: “Our members should decide the next leader. Not any small group of people at Holyrood.”
Ms Gallacher said: “Pleased to see Murdo launching his campaign bid this morning.
“It won’t come as any shock that I intend to stand and win by restoring trust, giving members a voice, and focusing on bringing in the next generation of Scottish Conservatives.
“This is why we need a contest.
“We must reset, rebuild and restore the party from the grassroots to the top. That’s exactly what I’m focused on achieving.”
At the campaign launch, Jamie Greene said Mr Fraser was the only candidate with the “gumption” to turn things around for the party.
Liam Kerr had a similar message, saying the party must unite under a “strong, experienced and respected leader”.
Getty ImagesEach candidate had to secure the backing of 100 party members to make it onto the ballot paper.
The leader post became vacant after Douglas Ross announced his intention to resign during the general election campaign.
The contest will be conducted using a preferential voting system.
The bottom ranked candidate will be eliminated in each round, with their first-preference votes redistributed until one candidate receives over 50% of votes cast.
Whoever wins the race will need to contend with a challenging political landscape for the Conservatives in Scotland.
In July’s general election, despite losing only one MP, they won just 12% of the vote share.
They also lost deposits in 16 seats where they gained less than 5% of ballots, whereas in 2019 they held onto their deposits in every seat they contested.
The general election proved the undoing of Mr Ross, who will remain in place until a new leader is chosen before returning to the backbenches.
Mr Ross, an MSP for the Highlands and Islands, faced an internal revolt over a last-minute decision to run for Westminster again, in place of colleague David Duguid who had been ill in hospital.
