MICHAEL Gove and Boris Johnson have the most declared support among Scottish Tory MPs in the Conservative leadership race.
Of the 13 Scottish Tory MPs five – David Mundell, Stephen Kerr, David Duguid, Luke Graham and Bill Grant – are backing the Environment Secretary, who grew up in Aberdeen.
Two MPs – Colin Clark and Ross Thomson – have publicly backed frontrunner and arch Brexiteer Johnson.
One MP – Paul Masterton – has declared support for Rory Stewart; and one – John Lamont – is backing Jeremy Hunt.
The remaining four Scottish Tory MPs Kirstene Hair, Douglas Ross, Alister Jack and Andrew Bowie have not said who they will vote for today in the second ballot of Tory MPs.
Ross voted for Mark Harper in the first ballot but Harper was eliminated in the first ballot. The Moray MP has not said who he will vote for today.
Bowie backed Matt Hancock in the first ballot but Hancock pulled out of the race on Friday, and has now declared his support for Johnson.
The West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP did not say who he would now be backing.
“Tory Leadership Election. Every single candidate for leader is one I would follow over the top. Every single one is committed to this country and to the idea that working together we can leave it in a better place,” he wrote on Twitter.
“And I am honoured to know all of them personally. To come to a decision on who to back for the next round is one that I’ve been wrestling with over the weekend. I have not rushed, I’ve thought deeply and I’ve spoken to every candidate or members of their team in doing so.”
He added: “I’ve told every candidate who I am not backing that sadly, they will not be receiving my vote. I’ve told the person I am backing that they have. I’ve been honest with all of them and thank them for the courtesy and understanding they have shown in return.”
Masterton, who represents East Renfrewshire, announced his support for Stewart, the International Development Secretary, ahead of the second round of voting among Conservative MPs today.
The East Renfrewshire MP originally supported Hancock.
“With Matt out, I’m still looking for the same things: Energy, intelligence + enthusiasm with a clear vision for delivering Brexit + for the country beyond it. Someone who really gets the Union, with ideas to strengthen + secure it.
“Tomorrow I’ll be voting for @RoryStewartUK,” he wrote on Twitter.
None of the 13 Scottish MPs have publicly backed Ruth Davidson’s preferred candidate Home Secretary Sajid Javid, despite Davidson’s helping to launch his campaign last week.
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