Tory councillors back bid to rebrand party

MORE than half of Scottish Conservative councillors at the City Chambers back Tory leadership hopeful Murdo Fraser’s plan to rebrand the party.

Mr Fraser’s contentious proposal has won support from at least seven of the 11 sitting councillors in Edinburgh, including group leader Jeremy Balfour. Mr Fraser announced that so far a total of 46 Scottish Conservative councillors have backed his campaign to build a new party for Scotland.

Supportive city councillors include Cameron Rose, Jason Rust, Alistair Paisley, Joanna Mowat, Iain Whyte and Kate Mackenzie.

Mr Fraser said: “I am delighted that, this early in the campaign, I have secured the support of so many councillors.

“These are the men and women who are on the ground, fighting for their local communities and promoting our values.

“They know more than anyone how difficult it is to expand our party’s appeal in the face of the identity problem we have.”