Scots Tory leader Douglas Ross will be responsible for any election drubbing at today’s council election, according to a senior party figure.
Adam Tomkins blasted Ross for u-turning on calls for Boris Johnson to quit over party-gate and urged him to “own” a likely hammering at the polls.
A Tory parliamentarian also told the Record Ross does not communicate well with colleagues and said morale within the party is low.
The Scottish Tories are bracing themselves for heavy losses at today’s council elections for 32 local authorities.
Briefings last night tried to pin the blame for losses on the Prime Minister, who is on the ropes after getting fined for attending a Downing Street party during lockdown.
However, Ross is himself under the microscope after he rescinded his call for Johnson to quit ahead of the Scottish Tory conference.
The u-turn was seen as weak and widely ridiculed by his political opponents.
Tomkins, a former Tory MSP and ally of Ruth Davidson, refused to accept the narrative that Johnson will be responsible for losses today.
He tweeted: “I’m sorry but this is nonsense. Whatever today’s results show Douglas Ross owns this, not Boris. It was Douglas who u-turned, Douglas who flipped, and Douglas who backed the PM. He and his team need to own the consequences, not pass the buck.”
In further signs of trouble for Ross, a parliamentarian said they “could not understand” why the Scottish Tory leader had withdrawn his letter for the PM to quit.
The elected member also said Ross relied too heavily on a small number of advisers and said his communication with colleagues had to improve urgently.
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