Liam Kerr has become the fourth Scottish Conservative to join the party’s leadership contest.

The North East MSP said he aimed to take the Tories out of opposition, telling members he could offer a “realistic path to power”.

He said that he could unite the party and deliver their key policy aims.

He joins former journalist Russell Findlay, ex-Olympic sprinter Brian Whittle and deputy leader Meghan Gallacher in the leadership race.

Mr Kerr said: “Going into the 2026 [Holyrood] election we need to present the people of Scotland with a genuinely Conservative programme which gives them a reason to vote for us, and lays out a realistic path to power.”

He said under his leadership, the party’s strategy “would start from the future”, considering how the country should look in 15 years’ time.

“Everything we do will work back from that point, creating the kind of Scotland we want to live in – fair, thriving and dynamic,” Mr Kerr said.

“I know I have the strategy and vision to unite our excellent group of MSPs who will come together and take our case to the Scottish people ahead of 2026.”

The current Scottish Conservative leader, Douglas Ross, announced he would resign during the general election campaign.

If followed criticism over his decision to stand as a candidate in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East instead of a colleague who had been ill in hospital.

Mr Ross will remain in post until his successor is chosen.

The contest is expected to finish by the end of September, with nominations opening on 8 August and closing on 22 August.

The winner will be confirmed before the UK party’s successor to Rishi Sunak is announced on November 2.