Jackson Carlaw Conservative and Unionist Party
Standing in Eastwood · West Scotland region
Former Leader of the Scottish Conservatives (February-July 2020) and Deputy Leader (2011-2019) under Ruth Davidson. MSP since 2007; elected for Eastwood in 2016.
Policy Positions
Scotland's Future
Strong opposition to independence. Stand up for Scotland's place in the Union and stop another independence referendum.
NHS & Health
Focus on faster GP appointments and reducing waiting lists by increasing NHS capacity for procedures. Efficiency-led NHS reform rather than new spending commitments.
Housing
Market-led housing policy. Scrap SNP rent controls, stop costly housebuilding regulations, and abolish tax on buying a primary home (Land and Buildings Transaction Tax reform).
Climate & Transport
Scrap the SNP's 2045 net zero target and drop policies that impose costs on households to meet it. Back the oil and gas industry and scrap carbon pricing schemes.
Tax & Public Spending
Cut income tax — raise the point at which you start paying in line with inflation, uprate the Higher Rate threshold, and lower income tax to 19p in the £1 for low- and middle-income households.
Economy & Jobs
Make economic growth the number one policy objective. Cut regulation, introduce Scottish Business Zones, and oppose tax rises and new taxes.
Education & Childcare
Raise school standards. Empower headteachers and reduce bureaucracy to lift Scotland back up international rankings.
Social Issues
Voted in favour of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill at Stage 3 in December 2022, one of only two Conservative MSPs to break with the party line on that vote. On the wider 2026 equality agenda follows the party position on single-sex wards and biological sex under the Equality Act and opposes the Non-Binary Equality Action Plan.
Track Record
› Former Leader of the Scottish Conservatives (February-July 2020)
› Deputy Leader under Ruth Davidson (2011-2019); MSP since 2007
› Elected for Eastwood constituency in 2016 defeating incumbent Ken Macintosh