LIBDEM MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton sparked a row last night as he invited the outgoing Scottish Tory leader to find “safe harbour” in his party.
The LibDem’s shadow health secretary was responding to the news that Jackson Carlaw would be resigning with immediate effect.
In a statement, Carlaw said he had reached the “simple if painful conclusion” that he was not up to the job of leading the Scottish Tories into next year’s election.
READ MORE: Jackson Carlaw quits after just five months as Scottish Tory leader
Senior Tories insisted his departure was nothing to do with Boris Johnson or Dominic Cummings, but was a result of the Holyrood’s group unhappiness with his performance over the last five months.
Within minutes of the news there were rumours that Moray MP Douglas Ross would be taking over the position, while Ruth Davidson would represent the party during FMQs until a new leader is found.
Johnson was in Scotland to meet with Carlaw and Ross just days ago.
Reacting to the developments on Twitter, Cole-Hamilton posted: “I’ve always liked @Jackson_Carlaw & you can see the measure of the man he is in the introspection and humility he displayed in his departure. Coupled with the loss of @ProfTomkins it’s a dark time for progressive Tories of the centre. You’ll find safe harbour with @scotlibdems.”
I’ve always liked @Jackson_Carlaw & you can see the measure of the man he is in the introspection and humility he displayed in his departure. Coupled with the loss of @ProfTomkins it’s a dark time for progressive Tories of the centre. You’ll find safe harbour with @scotlibdems.
— Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP🔶 (@agcolehamilton) July 30, 2020
The post racked up hundreds of replies as people were shocked by the proposition. Former LibDem candidate James Harrison replied to him with a meme reading: “So you’ve decided to tweet this. Here’s why you shouldn’t have.”
Another user replied: “Any sensible, self-respecting Libdems (and I would include myself in that category, Alex) jumped ship in 2010.”
— James Harrison 🇪🇺 (@JamesWHarrison) July 30, 2020
Pro-LibDem blogger Andrew Page questioned Cole-Hamilton’s characterisation of Carlaw.
He responded: “I felt he was put into an impossible position, and so have some sympathy for him. But I don't see much ‘progressive’ in his values, and humility has been in rather short supply during his FMQ performances. The bottom line is the party's over [for] the Scottish Tories.”
READ MORE: Tory MSP admits 'majority' of Scots now back independence
Meanwhile Tomkins appeared on the BBC this morning, conceding that support for Scottish independence is now the “majority” position among Scots.
Asked about support for self-determination, which polls put at 54%, the outgoing MSP said: “For the first time in Scottish history independence now looks like it might not be the minority pursuit that it’s always been, but the position of a majority of Scots.”
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