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Mundell memo criticises Tory MSPs Leader Cameron backs party MSPs
(about 4 hours later)
Scotland's only Conservative MP has written a withering assessment of his Holyrood colleagues. Tory leader David Cameron backed his party's Scottish leadership after a devastating assessment of MSPs by his sole Scottish MP.
Shadow Scottish secretary David Mundell has criticised the lack of talent among Tory MSPs in a confidential briefing paper obtained by a newspaper. Mr Cameron paid public tribute to leader north of the border, Annabel Goldie, and to Peter Duncan, the chairman of the Scottish party.
The Daily Record reports that Mr Mundell's memo lamented "the simple lack of thinkers" on Tory benches at Holyrood. His praise did not extend to David Mundell, who is alleged to have made criticised them in a leaked memo.
A spokesman for the party declined to comment on "internal communications". "Annabel Goldie and Peter Duncan are doing a great job," said Mr Cameron.
The memo comes a day before the Scottish Tory conference is due to open in Perth. He added: "Annabel has a no-nonsense approach and is addressing the issues that really matter in Scotland.
'No idea' "The party in Scotland is in better health now than it has been for many years and is running an effective campaign.
The four-page memo was reportedly written last June. Faction fighting
Said to be a briefing for David Cameron, it accuses MSPs of failing to understand the party's new moderate approach and reportedly says: "There are more obvious problems than solutions emanating from Scotland from a party point of view." "I am looking forward to the Scottish conference tomorrow."
Mr Mundell said Miss Goldie made a "reasonable start" as leader but had begun to attract adverse comment for "lack of activity and strategic thought." The disclosure of the purported memo threatens to overshadow the party's conference in Perth, ahead of the Holyrood elections in May.
The memo also called for the replacement of Scots party chairman Peter Duncan, branding it "an immediate priority". The memo is a particular embarrassment to Miss Goldie who, when she became leader in November 2005, warned that faction fighting had to stop.
A spokesman for the party said: "I have no idea if this document even exists. The memo lamented "the simple lack of thinkers" on Tory benches at Holyrood.
"The Scottish Conservatives are solely interested in leading debates and campaigning for the elections by talking about the issues that really matter to the people of Scotland." And Mr Mundell said the replacement of Scots party chairman Mr Duncan was "an immediate priority".
The assessment came in a four-page memo reportedly written last June which was leaked to the Daily Record newspaper.