Scottish Tory leader resigns – and leaves an important vacancy

In the past few minutes, Jackson Carlaw has quit as leader of the Scottish Conservative party. In a resignation statement, Carlaw said that he had made the decision after concluding he was ‘not, in the present circumstances, the person best placed’ to lead the case for Scotland remaining part of the UK ahead of the Holyrood elections next year. 

His decision to resign – with immediate effect – has taken senior government figures by surprise. While Carlaw divided opinion in Westminster, ministers had not expected him to go in these circumstances. One senior Scottish Tory describes Carlaw’s decision as admirable: ‘It just hadn’t worked out for him as leader and he made a very brave and admirable decision.’

This is, in part, because the timing of Carlaw’s resignation comes at a point when the party can now pick someone better suited to lead them into next year’s crunch vote.