ALISTER JACK backed a breakaway Scottish Conservative party and offered it "significant sums" of cash.
The current Scottish Secretary, who represents Dumfries and Galloway in Westminster, gave his backing to Murdo Fraser's 2011 Tory leadership bid.
Fraser proposed splitting the Scottish Conservative party from the UK Tories to "detoxify" the brand.
READ MORE: 'Cruel' No 10 staff flouted Covid rules to party into the night while the Queen mourned
Jack, a multi-millionaire, offered his support to the radical proposal and said he would be willing to fund the party if Fraser's bid was successful.
The plans never came to fruition and Ruth Davidson was elected Scottish Tory leader.
The Scotsman reported Jack as saying of Fraser's failed bid: "We shouldn’t be frightened of stepping out on our own.
"I’m completely confident that we can raise more money for the new party than SCUP [Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party] has raised for many years.
"Everyone’s concerns about Murdo’s plans would be whether he would get enough support to get the party off the ground.
“For years the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party has needed someone to take the bull by the horns and tell us how to sort ourselves out. In Murdo, we have him.”
READ MORE: Devolved nations doubt Tories will 'respect' Union's new council of leaders
The question of a breakaway party has been opened again following Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross calling for Boris Johnson's resignation after the Prime Minster admitted to attending a party in Downing Street during the height of lockdown.
It's understood Ross has the backing of all 31 Scottish Tory MSPs who agree the Prime Minister should back down.
Analysis by Ballot Box Scotland called the situation within the Conservative Party "unprecedented".
Alister Jack was approached for comment.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel