Chair and treasurer appointed to Scottish Conservatives

Malcolm Offord who was made a peer under the last government so that he could become a Scottish Minister has been appointed Treasurer of the Scottish Conservatives. He has a career in the City behind him and set up his own investment firm in Scotland.

Alasdair Locke becomes chair of the party. He is an Oxford graduate and founded and chaired an oil group with petrol stations across the UK, Motor Fuel Group, is the former chair of Abbot Group one of the leading oil and gas businesses in the world, and who donated a reported £20,000 to Douglas Ross in his leadership campaign. He is also understood to have donated £75,000 to the party before the general election.

Pam Gosal, MBE, MSP will become Deputy Chair. She has, according to the Scottish Conservatives, decades of experience running businesses and working in senior economic development roles.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “I’m delighted to announce the appointments of Alasdair Locke and Malcolm Offord to a Scottish Conservative team that will drive our party forward.

“Their collective breadth of knowledge and experience is unrivalled, with widespread recognition and respect in Scotland’s business community and across the rest of the United Kingdom.

“Alasdair is recognised as one of Scotland’s leading entrepreneurs and we’re fortunate to welcome such a senior business leader as our chairman.

“His long-running support for our party has been unparalleled and I look forward to working with him even more closely in the future. 

“Malcolm is also hugely respected in business and spent many years serving with distinction as a UK government minister.

“Securing the services of such prominent figures is consistent with our core Conservative values of aspiration and opportunity for all.

“Our role as the party of business has never been more critical given the damage being done to our country by the anti-business SNP and Labour governments in Edinburgh and London.

“We now have unrivalled business experience with Alasdair Locke as chairman, Pam Gosal as his deputy chair and Malcolm Offord as treasurer.

“I also want to express my sincere gratitude to our outgoing chairman Craig Hoy and treasurer Hamish Mair for their outstanding dedication and achievements. I very much look forward to continue working with them both in future.”

Scottish Conservative chairman Alasdair Locke said: “I’m very pleased to accept this position and I’m looking forward to helping Russell as he takes on the left-wing parties at Holyrood and challenges the Labour government at Westminster.

“It’s a privilege to be appointed as chairman and I’m determined to deliver necessary changes to our party, so we can elect the maximum number of Scottish Conservative representatives as possible at every opportunity.

“Under Russell’s leadership, I know we can earn the trust of voters across Scotland and achieve successful results in the 2026 and 2027 elections.”

Scottish Conservative treasurer, Lord Offord, said: “I’m delighted to be appointed as treasurer and I’m excited to be part of Russell’s team as we reinvigorate and re-energise the party.

“I believe Russell has the common sense values and the straight-talking approach that we need to hold the SNP and Labour governments to account.

“Together, I know we can provide workers and owners in Scotland’s business community with the representation they need.”