My dear Michael ForsythMichael
When I appointed you as Chairman of the Party in Scotland last year, I asked you to breathe new vitality into the Conservative cause in Scotland. I am most grateful to you for all your unstinting commitment and hard work to that end, on top of your responsibilities in the Scottish Office, coupled with your tremendous work in your Stirling constituency.
We both agree that, as the General Election approaches, the time has come when it is necessary to have a full-time Chairman at Conservative Central Office in Edinburgh. Your role in the Scottish Office remains crucial to the continuing good Government of Scotland and I am delighted that you will now be there in the higher position as a Minister of State with enhanced responsibilities, a promotion which is richly deserved. With Russell SandersonRussell as Chairman building on the foundations you have laid in the Party and Malcolm RifkindMalcolm's long experience as Secretary of State, I am sure that we have the right team to put our case and increase our support.
Once again, my grateful thanks for all that you have done over the last twelve months during your term as Chairman. We shall continue to be close colleagues, in your capacity as Minister of State at the Scottish Office. Moreover I shall make a point of continuing to seek your advice and thoughts on future policy. This will be of particular significance in the run-up to the Election.
Yours ever
Margaret