It has been the privilege of my life to serve as the leader of the
Scottish Conservative and Unionist party these
past nearly eight years. This has been a
remarkable time in politics and I will
always be thankful for the opportunity to have
a front seat as Scottish political history was
being made.
It is therefore with a heavy heart that this
morning I wrote to the chairman of the Scottish
Conservative party to tender my resignation.
I explained the changes, both professional and personal,
that have prompted this decision. You all know and I have
never sought to hide the conflict that I have felt over Brexit.
As I Iook to the future I see the Scottish election due in 2021
and a credible threat from our opponents to force a general
election before then. Having lead our party
through seven national elections and two referenda I know
the efforts, the hours and the travel required to fight such
campaigns successfully. And I have to be honest that
where the idea of getting on the roads to fight two
elections in 20 months would once have fired me up
the threat of spending hundreds of hours away from my home
and family now fills me with dread. And that
is now way to lead.
What I would urge is to colleagues who want to
avoid no-deal. Vote for a deal - you've had three
opportunities, you blew every one of them.
Don't blow a fourth. I know the prime minister
is seeking to get a deal. I've had long conversations
with him on this point and I believe him when
he says he's seeking to get a deal. And please, for
those people who are trying to avoid no-deal,
make it clear, make it clear now that if a deal comes
back to the house of commons you will vote
for it. And let the EU hear you say that you will
vote for it so that they understand that there
is a reason for them to re-open negotiations.