Major Scots Tory fundraiser Sir Jack Harvie quits role

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One of the Scottish Conservative Party's most prolific fundraisers, Sir Jack Harvie, has announced he is stepping down from the post.

The businessman, 75, has raised about £16m for the party, largely through his "Focus on Scotland" dinners.

He hit the headlines during the Scottish Tory leadership campaign, over his refusal to bankroll a planned breakaway party.

The party paid tribute to Sir Jack's contribution.

It said a new fundraising team was being put in place.

In the past three years alone, Focus on Scotland has given about £1m to the Scottish Conservatives.

During the leadership campaign, eventually won by Ruth Davidson, one of the frontrunners, Murdo Fraser, called for the creation of a new, centre-right party.

Sir Jack said at the time Mr Fraser would have no authority to dissolve the Scottish Conservative Party himself, and that, if a new party were to be created, Focus on Scotland would continue to fund the existing one.