The Scottish Conservatives’ MSP for West Scotland has announced his candidacy for party leader.
Jamie Greene MSP says he aims to fix a “broken” Holyrood, and will “restore optimism to our politics”.
His three-part mantra to “fix politics, fix the party, fix Scotland” is his effort to reset his party’s approach after the last election.
Mr Greene says he will begin a “radical shake-up” of how his party operates and believes the Scottish Parliament needs an overhaul in order to better deliver for the people of Scotland.
His launch proposes to rebuild the Scottish Conservative party as a better managed and member-led organisation, with a realistic pitch of how he will take his party into governance to deliver its agenda in Holyrood.
The leadership hopeful outlined policy plans to create new pathways for young Scots to pursue entrepreneurship, calls for a “start-up revolution”, and a supercharging of Scotland’s digital skills drive.
Mr Greene also outlined his preference for a review of internal party structures, agreeing to sign up to proposals which will see an independent commission look at options after the 2026 election.
His own shake-up includes proposals for an elected party chairman and to give members more say in policy at party conference.
“The Scottish Conservatives have been a drifting ship surviving political storms, but I’ve had enough of the language of defeat.
“I want to fix politics, fix our party, and fix Scotland.
“That means a radical shake-up of how we do things in Holyrood and a change in leadership style.
“The public are scunnered by politics and the endless, pointless grievance mongering.
“They want to see their parliament deliver meaningful change, and that means we need adults in the room in charge.”
He added: “It also means fixing our party so our members have a real voice and ownership in our movement.
“Leadership is a team effort, that’s how you win. Scottish politics is broken.
“After 17 long years of SNP rule that’s no surprise to anyone.
“The country needs a common sense, centre-right party which the next generation of voters will trust, a party with a viable and honest path to power.
“That’s why my campaign will focus on how we attract people who have never considered voting Conservative before, but who are drawn to our common-sense ideas.”
“We must change and that means taking some risks, or face being in eternal opposition.
“I didn’t get into politics to harp from the side-lines.
“If we are serious about getting into government then it’s time to elect a leader who will form a winning team.”
The North East MSP said his leadership could offer a “realistic path to power” with a unified, ideas-driven party.
Mr Kerr, who is the Scottish Tory education spokesman, wrote in the Telegraph that the UK party had suffered a “sobering” defeat in the general election, but noted that no more than 24% of the vote had ever been achieved by the Tories in Holyrood elections.
Writing in the Telegraph, he said: “Going into 2026, we have to present the people of Scotland with a genuinely Conservative programme which gives them a reason to vote for us while also showing a unified, proactive, ideas-led team which presents a realistic path to power.”
Others who are standing for party leadership are justice spokesman Russell Findlay, deputy party leader Meghan Gallacher and former Olympian Brian Whittle.
