Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Pàrtaidh Tòraidheach agus Aonaidheach na h-Alba (Scottish Gaelic) Scots Tory an Unionist Pairty (Scots) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Russell Findlay |
| Deputy Leader | Rachael Hamilton |
| Chair | Craig Hoy |
| Deputy Chair | Pam Gosal |
| Founded | April 1965[1] |
| Preceded by | Unionist Party |
| Headquarters | 67 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh |
| Membership (2024) | 7,000[2] |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre-right to right-wing |
| National affiliation | Conservatives |
| Colours | Blue |
| House of Commons (Scottish seats) | 5 / 57 |
| Scottish Parliament | 31 / 129 |
| Local government in Scotland[6] | 209 / 1,226 |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (Scottish Gaelic: Pàrtaidh Tòraidheach na h-Alba, Scots: Scots Tory an Unionist Pairty, often known simply as the Scottish Conservatives and colloquially as the Scottish Tories)[7] is part of the UK Conservative Party active in Scotland. It holds 5 of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons, 31 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, and comprises 209 of Scotland's 1,227 local councillors.
The party's policies in Scotland usually promote conservatism and the continuation of Scotland's role as part of the United Kingdom.
Douglas Ross is the Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party. He replaced Jackson Carlaw, who briefly served from February to July 2020; Carlaw had in turn taken over from Ruth Davidson, who held the post from 2011-19. The Scottish party has no separate Chief Whip at Westminster.
At the 2017 general election, the party increased its tally of MPs to 13, with a 28.6% share of the popular vote – its best performance since 1983 and in terms of votes since 1979 – but the success was an aberration, with the gains made in 2019 being lost to the SNP. At the 2016 Holyrood election, the Scottish Conservatives gained 16 seats, making it the largest opposition party, with 31 of 129 seats. At the 2021 Holyrood election, the Scottish Conservatives maintained 31 seats and remained as the largest opposition party.
- ^ "Scottish election 2021: A simple guide to the Scottish Conservatives". BBC. 19 April 2021. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021.
- ^
- "Russell Findlay pledges 'common sense' as Scottish Conservative leader". BBC. 27 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024.
- Lockhart, David Wallace (28 September 2024). "Why new Scottish Tory leader has his work cut out". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024.
- ^
- Convery, Alan (2020). "The Scottish Conservative Party". University of Edinburgh Research Explorer. Edinburgh School of Social and Political Science: 5–14. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198825098.013.12.
- Torrance, David (2023). A History of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Parties. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 203–232. ISBN 9781399506434.
- ^
- Convery, Alan (2020). "The Scottish Conservative Party". University of Edinburgh Research Explorer. Edinburgh School of Social and Political Science: 5–14. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198825098.013.12.
- Ascherson, Neal (16 January 2022). "Scotland's a conservative country. But Scottish Tories are held back by London HQ". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022.
- Simpkins, Fiona (2021). "The Conservative Party and the Brexit Crisis". Observatoire de la société britannique. 27: 247–265. doi:10.4000/osb.5275.
- Torrance, David (2023). A History of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Parties. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 203–232. ISBN 9781399506434.
- ^
- Convery, Alan (2020). "The Scottish Conservative Party". University of Edinburgh Research Explorer. Edinburgh School of Social and Political Science: 5–14. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198825098.013.12.
- ^ "Local Council Political Compositions". Open Council Date UK. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ Although officially named the Scottish Conservative & Unionist party, It is not a political party. It is registered with the UK Electoral Commission as a description and Accounting Unit (AU) of the UK Conservative Party and is therefore not a registered political party under the terms of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.