Veteran Tory MSP Liz Smith has warned that “extremist” Reform UK could replace the Conservatives as Holyrood’s opposition.
The politician, who is standing down after nearly 20 years at Holyrood, admitted her biggest regret was the decline of the Scottish Tories since Ruth Davidson’s leadership led the party to historic success.
Ahead of the May election, she admitted her colleagues had concerns over how the party would rebuild trust with voters.
But she denied her party had shifted to the right in the wake of Nigel Farage’s popularity and insisted they had not copied the language and behaviour of Reform, which she described as “extremist”.
“I don’t actually think that’s correct,” she told the Press Association, urging voters to look at the party’s policies.
“I think the media likes to portray that as correct because they see that we’re having to fight Reform.”
She added: “This is the very first time we’ve had the right challenging us, and quite an extremist right.
“Therefore, we’ve had to look at the reactions on key issues like migration and some of the issues to do with social values, where we’re being challenged from the right, and we’re being challenged from the left.
“Do I think that the Conservative Party in Scotland has moved very far to the right? No, I don’t.”
Ms Smith said the new tone adopted by Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay reflected “what’s happening generally in politics”.
But asked about polls showing Reform could be Holyrood’s second largest party, she said “that is a worry to me”, adding: “I’m not breaking anybody’s confidence by saying there are concerns within the Scottish Conservatives about how we rebuild trust with the electorate, because the polls are showing that we are not doing that just now.”
Ms Smith said she was filled with achievement as an MSP for 19 years, having recently won cross-party support for her outdoor education Bill, which she will help implement even after leaving frontline politics.
She was not without regret, however, telling PA: “My biggest regret is that the Conservatives have never been a bit stronger.
“When I came into Parliament under David McLetchie, who was a fantastic leader, he did so much to sort of lay the basis and then I think Ruth Davidson came in and was able to grow the party, she was able to grow the appeal across the electorate, not just because of the timing of her leadership, which is obviously very much related to the referendum.
“So, my regret is that after that time we’ve seen a decline.”
The former teacher urged whoever controls the Scottish Government in May to take warnings about the country’s finances “seriously” amid reports of a £5 billion financial black hole by 2030.
She said there were “many people out there who could work but choose not to”.
Social security was only part of the reforms she said are needed to stop the feeling among the public that Holyrood is not working as well as it should be.
She also called for committee conveners to be elected.
Ms Smith said she hoped the next intake of MSPs would work to restore a more respectful political culture.
“I would like to see that style of politics be part of the next Parliament,” she said, pointing to the tone of the recent Assisted Dying Bill, “rather than the division and the rancour and some of the silliness that we tend to get.
“I don’t think that’s what the public wants. I think they want a better parliament.”
