'Convincing' win for right-winger

Conference documents still feature Kim Donald

Tory right-winger Bill Walker has won a convincing victory in the contest for deputy chairman of the Scottish Conservative Party.

At 71, Mr Walker is a veteran of the party and one-time MP for North Tayside.

He is a known right winger, a fervent Euro sceptic and believes devolution has created an imbalance within the UK.

Bill Walker: Former MP

But he backs party chairman Raymond Robertson and believes in loyalty to the leadership.

Mr Walker's nearest rival was the incumbent Kim Donald - who had previously voiced criticism of Mr Robertson.

She won 32%, Mr Walker polled 47% and executive member Mars Goodman gained 19% support.

Kim Donald still features in documents for this year's conference in Dundee.

Mr Walker said on Monday: "We are a right wing party but we are a broad church.

"I for one believe that everyone is entitled to have views on policy but what we are not entitled to do is to attack personalities and individuals."

Raymond Robertson: Chairman of the party

The result is a setback for those backbench MSPs who had backed Mrs Donald. They have warned that Mr Walker represented the politics of the past.

A motion of no confidence was brought against Mr Robertson last July but it was withdrawn in last-minute compromise.

Following more than three hours of talks, the Scottish Conservatives' 16-strong executive backed a wide-ranging inquiry into the various power structures within the party.

Mr Robertson's management style was criticised and he was described as "arrogant" and "high-handed".

The former Scottish Office minister and MP for Aberdeen South led the Tories' campaign for the Scottish Parliament elections.