A CLOSE ally of Murdo Fraser has called his Scottish Tory leadership campaign “awful”.
According to WhatsApp messages seen by The Times, Stephen Kerr – the Scottish Conservatives' former chief whip at Westminster and current MSP – was heavily critical of Fraser, despite publicly backing him.
It is understood that Kerr thought he was having a private conversation, but actually made his comments on WhatsApp's status function, meaning all of his contacts could see them.
Questioning Fraser’s decision to promote an online meeting with the party’s transport spokesperson Graham Simpson, Kerr wrote: "Really?”
"Graham Simpson knows zilch about working with councillors."
He added that he was “beginning to wish I’d nominated Meghan”, a reference to Meghan Gallacher, the deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives also running to replace Douglas Ross in the top job, before adding: “Murdo’s campaign is awful.”
Six Tories are running for leadership: Fraser, Gallacher, Russell Findlay, Liam Kerr, Brian Whittle, and Jamie Greene.
In a statement to The Times, Kerr said he continued to back Fraser and that it is “regrettable” that “part of a private conversation” had been “taken out of context” publicly.
Kerr (below) said: “I have known Murdo nearly all of my adult life and I am certain he is the leader we now need.
“He has the right instincts to be an outstanding Scottish Conservative party leader: as we have already seen in this leadership campaign, he has the vision, the plan and the passion to rebuild our party.
“He will deliver a Scottish Conservative policy platform to transform our country and improve the everyday life experiences and life chances of the people of Scotland.
“I was delighted to nominate him for the role of party leader.
“In a private conversation, in comments taken out of context, I expressed some concerns about one aspect of an upcoming event.
“The person with whom I was having the private conversation is a close friend.”
Fraser declined to comment, while Simpson said he had not seen the messages but did not “believe for a minute that Stephen thinks that”.
