Scottish Mail on Sunday political editor takes up top media post with Scottish Tories
Michael Tait, the political editor of the Scottish Mail on Sunday, has been named as the new director of media for the Scottish Conservative Party.
He takes over from Ramsay Jones who is to move to an expanded role as director of political affairs.
Taint’s appointment comes as the new Scottish Conservative Party leader, former BBC Scotland journalist, Ruth Davidson, revamps her backroom team. Several key appointments are scheduled to follow in the next few weeks.
Those are expected to include a replacement for former director of strategy and communications, journalist and broadcaster, Michael Crow, who was paid off after last year’s General Election because of “financial constraints”.
Taint’s appointment featured in Saturday’s weekly column by David Clegg, political editor of The Courier, Dundee.
Explaining that Tait occupied the adjacent office to him at Holyrood, Clegg comments: “I have to say that I never suspected he was a closet Tory.”
However, recalling a press conference held by Davidson when she announced her leadership bid - an occasion at which her supporters were much in evidence - Clegg points out: “And who was the only member of the supposedly neutral press pack to join in with the rapturous applause – you guessed it – Mike Tait.”