A Scottish Conservative MSP has apologised after branding ally Murdo Fraser’s party leadership campaign as “awful”.

In a series of posts accidentally published as status updates to his WhatsApp profile, Stephen Kerr criticised Mr Fraser’s bid despite publicly backing him.

“I’m beginning to wish I’d nominated Meghan,” Mr Kerr wrote, in reference to Mr Fraser’s leadership rival and current Scottish Tory deputy leader Meghan Gallacher.

He added: “Murdo’s campaign is awful.”

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Mr Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland and former chief whip of the party at Holyrood, also questioned Mr Fraser’s decision to publicise an online meeting for councillors with MSP Graham Simpson, the transport spokesperson.

Mr Kerr wrote: “Really?”

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He added: “Graham Simpson knows zilch about working with councillors.”

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Mr Kerr claimed his comments had been taken “out of context” and is continuing to support Mr Fraser.

He said: “I have known Murdo nearly all of my adult life and I am certain he is the leader we now need.

“He has the right instincts to be an outstanding Scottish Conservative Party leader. As we have already seen in this leadership campaign, he has the vision, the plan and the passion to rebuild our party.”

Mr Kerr said he was “delighted” to nominate Mr Fraser for the role of party leader.

He added: “In a private conversation, in comments taken out of context, I expressed some concerns about one aspect of an upcoming event. The person with whom I was having the private conversation is a close friend

“It is regrettable that when we are having such an important public debate about the future of our party, that part of a private conversation is taken out of context.

“I fully support Murdo as our next party leader.”

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Mr Fraser, the MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, is one of the frontrunners in the contest.

A spokesperson for his leadership campaign said: “Stephen has apologised to Murdo for his comments which he says were taken out of context, and is clear that Murdo is the best candidate for leadership.

“Murdo has been heartened by the enthusiastic response he has received from party members across Scotland with more and more signing up every day to his message of real change, both for the Scottish Conservatives and the country.”

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Six Scottish Tory MSPs have announced bids to succeed Douglas Ross as party leader.

Mr Fraser, Ms Gallacher, Russell Findlay, Brian Whittle, Liam Kerr and Jamie Greene have each thrown their hats into the ring.

The candidates have until 22 August to collect 100 nominations from party members to stand in the election.

The contest is scheduled to finish on 27 September – ahead of the UK Conservative Party revealing Rishi Sunak’s successor on 2 November.

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