Changes made to Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet

Phyllis Stephen

September 4, 2019 8:54 am

The Scottish Conservatives have announced changes to the shadow cabinet, and the appointment of two vice chairs.

The update follows the resignation as leader of Ruth Davidson last week.

The new shadow cabinet is as follows:

Interim Leader – Jackson Carlaw MSP
Deputy Leader and Shadow Cabinet Secretary Justice – Liam Kerr MSP
Community Safety and Veterans Affairs – Maurice Corry MSP
Chief Whip, Shadow Cabinet Secretary Climate Change, Environment, Land Reform
Maurice Golden MSP
Shadow Cabinet Secretary Finance – Murdo Fraser MSP
Taxation – Bill Bowman MSP
Financial Sustainability – Tom Mason MSP
Shadow Cabinet Secretary Education and Skills – Liz Smith MSP
Further Education, Higher Education and Science – Oliver Mundell MSP
Children and Young People – Alison Harris MSP
Shadow Cabinet Secretary Europe and External Affairs – Donald Cameron MSP
Shadow Cabinet Secretary Constitutional Relations – Adam Tomkins MSP
Shadow Cabinet Secretary Economy, Jobs and Fair Work – Dean Lockhart MSP
Business, Innovation and Energy, Deputy Chief Whip – Alexander Burnett MSP
Jobs, Employability and Skills – Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP
Trade, Investment and Legal Affairs – Gordon Lindhurst MSP
Shadow Cabinet Secretary Health and Sport – Miles Briggs MSP
Mental Health, Public Health and Equalities – Annie Wells MSP
Sport and Wellbeing – Brian Whittle MSP
Shadow Cabinet Secretary Culture and Tourism – Rachael Hamilton MSP
Shadow Cabinet Secretary Communities & Social Security – Michelle Ballantyne MSP
Welfare, Disability and Older People – Jeremy Balfour MSP
Housing and Planning – Graham Simpson MSP
Local Government, International Development and Migration – Alexander Stewart MSP
Shadow Cabinet Secretary Rural Economy – Peter Chapman MSP
Rural Affairs and the Islands – Edward Mountain MSP
Natural Environment and the Digital Economy – Finlay Carson MSP
Shadow Cabinet Secretary Transport, Infrastructure & Connectivity – Jamie Greene MSP
Vice Chairmen of the Scottish Conservative Party – Kirstene Hair MP and Miles Briggs MSP
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body – Ruth Davidson MSP

Scottish Conservative interim leader Jackson Carlaw said: “Ruth’s departure of course necessitated some immediate changes.

“But it also presents an opportunity to bring forward Generation Ruth – people who were persuaded to get into politics because of her leadership.

“This move demonstrates the breadth of talent and experience within the Scottish Conservative team.

“Now the focus of not just the shadow cabinet but the whole Scottish Conservative group will be to continue to hold the SNP to account in Holyrood, and fight tooth and nail for Scotland’s place in the UK.”