AN AYRSHIRE MSP who's been tipped as a potential future leader of the Scottish Conservatives has been warned he faces defeat if he tries to become the party's Holyrood election candidate in Cunninghame North.

Jamie Greene, who represents the West Scotland region and was formerly the party's spokesperson on education, and later on justice, at the Scottish Parliament, could be ousted by the local branch after claims of 'inaction' and too much focus on 'woke' issues, according to reports in Conservative-backing national newspapers.

Senior officials from the North Ayrshire and Arran Conservative and Unionist Association say he faces defeat if he attempts to stand as a candidate in Cunninghame North again at the next Holyrood elections in 2026.

Mr Greene, who has been a regional list MSP in the area since 2016, was the Conservatives' candidate in Cunninghame North back in 2021. 

He came second to the SNP's Kenneth Gibson but retained his seat at Holyrood after being named third on the party's regional list for the west of Scotland.

He was later axed from the Scottish Tory frontbench team, and claimed the decision was down to his support for the SNP's controversial gender reforms.

David Rocks, chairman of the North Ayrshire Conservatives, told a national newspaper this week that the gender reform controversy was one of the issues concerning local party members. 

He said: "That caused an awful lot of problems because he didn't consult me as chairman or any of the members and councillors.

"He voted for it in Parliament and as chairman I got quite a lot of emails from members and supporters saying they weren't pleased at all."

If he fails to win the backing of local party members as their Cunninghame North candidate, Mr Greene's fate as an MSP would rest entirely in the hands of Scottish Conservative bosses, who are responsible for deciding who appears - and, crucially, in what order they appear - on the party lists for each of Holyrood's eight 'additional member' regions.

MSP Jamie GreeneMSP Jamie Greene (Image: Jamie Greene)

Mr Rocks told Ayrshire Weekly Press: "I get on with Jamie fine, but there is a disconnect between MSPs and constituency associations. I was speaking what I felt on behalf of the association.

"Certainly our executive committee wanted me to write to the new Conservative leader to say we would rather he did not stand again.

"There's no real bad blood, it is just the way it is. I have no idea who the next candidate could be.

"But the party does need clear, concise conservative policies. Policies that people understand.

"We need to be clear about our plans for education, health and the police and transport. We are not just an anti-independence party.

"We shouldn't be focussing on the 'woke' issues. When I have been speaking to the public, they are interested in their bins and pavements and schools."

A source close to Mr Greene said: “In his eight years as an MSP, Jamie and his hard working team have worked tirelessly for the people of North Ayrshire and Arran.

“Jamie has relentlessly advocated for island communities who have been ignored by the SNP. The endless ferry issues in Cumbrae and Arran raised with no less than three first ministers.

"It’s thanks to his efforts that drivers in Kilbirnie are now safer and his constituents in Irvine value his ongoing conversations with the police about anti-social behaviour.

“Be it roads, rail, ferries, the NHS and local economy he is proud to use his voice in Holyrood for North Ayrshire and Arran and will continue to represent the area with passion and commitment as always.

"His track record speaks for itself."