Controversy over potential new MSP

A Conservative is in line to become an MSP without getting the nod from party members, The Courier can reveal.

Tom Mason was parachuted in to the Scottish Conservatives’ list of Holyrood 2016 candidates for the North East region by party bosses – but rank-andfile Tories did not get their say.

He is poised to take the £62,000-a-year job on the regional vote, in which the electorate backs parties rather than individual candidates.

Mr Mason, who is Aberdeen’s new depute provost, is set to enter Holyrood because of an unprecedented series of events, which has seen the number of available politicians on the Tories’ backup list for the North-East evaporate.

Reasons for that include those on the list replacing MSPs elected to Westminster, as well as filling the vacancy left by Alex Johnstone, who died at the end of last year. On top of that, two Tories removed themselves from the North East list.

As 10th in line, Mr Mason is expected to take up the role, but one member says it is wrong that his place was not approved by rank-and-file, as is now standard. A Conservative source said: “The guy seems to be going to Holyrood having been handpicked by an increasingly controlling party machine, with no party members’ input.”

The only published list of North East candidates on the Scottish Conservative website is an old one, which did not include Mr Mason.

It meant those voting Tory on the list did not know they were potentially voting for Mr Mason, if they relied on the party’s website.

A Scottish Tory spokesman said: “He (Mr Mason) was not approved through the voluntary open primary system that we introduced, but his name was on our regional list that was seen by voters.

Asked whether he would take the seat in Holyrood, Mr Mason said: “In consultation with my colleagues I would have to assess the situation, but I have not been asked.”

Tom Mason could become MSP.