A north-east tycoon has revealed he financially backed the campaign of Michael Gove for the Tory leadership.
Millionaire property developer Alan Massie, the director of the Carlton Rock firm, said he gave Mr Gove his support as he felt the Aberdonian was best placed to protect Scotland’s place in the union as prime minister.
Last month Mr Massie revealed that he would back unionist candidates of any party who had the best chance of defeating the SNP in elections across Scotland.
But his strategy to “protect the Union” was criticised by the SNP as he recently switched his official residence from Aberdeen to Jersey, an overseas tax haven.
He was previously a high-profile Labour backer but has recently quit the party and has donated to Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.
Yesterday Mr Massie said: “I helped Michael Gove because I just thought it would be wonderful not only to have a Scottish Prime Minister but one from Aberdeen.
“To have an Aberdonian MP, who represents a constituency in Surrey, in Downing Street I think would have really have shown the strength of the union.
“The remaining candidates really need to speak up and figure out what they will say about Scotland’s place in the union, which is what Michael is so good at.”
