A SCOTTISH Conservative MSP has said his party will be “closed for business” if Robert Jenrick appoints Jacob Rees-Mogg as party chairman.
Last week, the Conservative Party leadership contest was whittled down to just two candidates following the shock exit of James Cleverly in the final ballot of Tory MPs.
The party membership will now decide whether Jenrick or Kemi Badenoch will succeed Rishi Sunak as party leader, with the result set to be announced on November 2.
Over the weekend Jenrick told The Telegraph that if elected leader he would make ex-MP Jacob Rees-Mogg party chairman.
Rees-Mogg lost his seat at the General Election after serving as an MP since 2010.
“Jacob has been a tireless campaigner for the grassroots,” he said.
“He understands better than anyone the need for party reform.
“One of my first acts as leader would be to appoint him as chairman of the party so we can truly reform and democratise our party.
“Together we will empower members and restore the respect that has been so sorely lacking in recent years.”
However, the news has been greeted with horror by Tory MSP Murdo Fraser, who said the appointment of Rees-Mogg would spell disaster for the Scottish party.
This is a truly terrible idea. If it happens @scottories might as well put a ‘closed for business’ sign on the office door. https://t.co/SNDCNxux2n
— Murdo Fraser (@murdo_fraser) October 13, 2024
“This is a truly terrible idea,” he said on X/Twitter.
“If it happens @scottories might as well put a ‘closed for business’ sign on the office door.”
Scottish Tory councillor Noah Khogali also branded the move an “awful idea”.
It comes after new Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay appeared unimpressed when Cleverly was knocked out of the leadership contest.
When asked by STV if either Jenrick or Badenoch would be "any good", he said: "We'll have to see who wins".
