Scottish Borders MP John Lamont has announced he is backing Russell Findlay MSP to lead the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party.
Findlay has now gained the backing of all five Scottish Conservative MPs including Dumfries and Galloway MP John Cooper, Dumfriesshire Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP David Mundell, Gordon and Buchan MP Harriet Cross, and West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP Andrew Bowie.
He has also been supported by Borders MSP Rachael Hamilton and 12 MSPs in total including Dumfriesshire MSP Oliver Mundell, South of Scotland MSP Sharon Dowey, Edinburgh MSPs Miles Briggs and Sue Webber, Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alexander Stewart, Highlands and Islands MSP Tim Eagle, North East MSPs Tess White and Douglas Lumsden, West of Scotland MSP Pam Gosal, and Glasgow MSPs Annie Wells and Sandesh Gulhane.
John Lamont, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland and Scottish Borders MP, said: “I’ve decided to support Russell Findlay to lead our party because he’s got the broad appeal to deliver election success.
“I was Ruth Davidson’s campaign manager in 2011 and I recognise a lot of the same strengths in Russell as she had. He’s positive, determined and he connects with people.
“Russell is not a career politician, that’s his great strength. But since becoming an MSP, he’s already achieved a lot by pushing the SNP to act and holding them to account on several justice issues.
“Russell can earn the trust of people across Scotland that our party must win over."
Scottish Conservative leadership candidate, Russell Findlay, said: "I'm delighted to have the support of John and all five of our Scottish Conservative MPs, who have shown what it takes for our party to win seats in Scotland.
"We need to get our party winning again all over Scotland, just as our MPs did in the recent General Election despite the difficult night our party had across the UK.
"My campaign is about delivering that success by bringing our party together at every level and utilising all the talent among our members, councillors, MSPs and MPs.
"If we unite and offer the public a positive Conservative message that champions aspiration and opportunity, I believe we can win over voters across Scotland."