SCOTTISH Conservative members in North Ayrshire have until Thursday, February 13, to cast their vote in the party’s leadership race.

Jackson Carlaw MSP and Michelle Ballantyne MSP are both running to replace Ruth Davidson who resigned last August.

Since Ms Davidson’s shock resignation Mr Carlaw has been acting leader and led the party into the 2019 General Election which saw the Scottish Conservatives reduced from 13 MPs to six.

Mr Carlaw was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2007 on the list system and in 2016 he won the Eastwood constituency from Labour.

He served as deputy leader of the party under Ruth Davidson.

Ms Ballantyne has only been an MSP since 2017 and is currently the party’s social security spokesperson.

West Scotland MSP Jamie Greene had been tipped to stand as a candidate in the leadership race by some in the party but he decided to back Jackson Carlaw instead.

Many senior Tories had indicated that they did not want a leadership contest as they feared it could be a distraction from the next Holyrood elections which are set to be held in May 2021.

The result of the contest will be announced on Friday, February 14.