THE time has finally come. Douglas Ross has announced he is stepping down from his role as Scottish Tory leader.
It’s led to quite the reaction across Scottish politics, with Patrick Harvie branding him “perhaps the worst leader in the Scottish Tories’ history and the Scottish Parliament and indeed, Scottish politics”.
While it’s safe to assume there’s plenty of people who won’t miss Ross, he has given The Jouker plenty of laughs down the years as well.
Here’s a look at the highlights reel.
A sweary FMQs
No doubt everybody will remember when Ross was forced to apologise for swearing at FMQs back in March 2023.
As proceedings were disrupted by a protester, the Scottish Tory leader could be heard exclaiming “f***’s sake” as the Presiding Officer suspended proceedings.
“It’s been brought to my attention that I perhaps used industrial language in response to the protesters who interrupted the session earlier,” Ross said.
“And to you, the Chamber, and everyone listening including my mother probably, I apologise for that.”
Atomic Kitten
The Jouker is sorry for even bringing this one up given how painful it is to watch but it feels like it can’t be missed.
During an interview with STV, Ross expressed his love of Atomic Kitten before saying he’d made up his own actions to the dance.
'Colin, you can make me whole again.' Anas Sarwar displayed his dancing skills to Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk on Saturday. And now Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has shown off his moves - inspired by Atomic Kitten - to STV political editor Colin Mackay. pic.twitter.com/4VC0RwrPOH
— STV News (@STVNews) April 26, 2021
Nicola Sturgeon probably summed it up best when she was asked for her reaction. “That Dougie Ross thing with Atomic Kitten… I mean talk about cringe,” she said.
Boris a ‘truthful man’
This really is a classic. After the release of a report which found Boris Johnson had repeatedly lied to Parliament, a clip resurfaced of Ross calling the former PM an “honest man”.
Asked in April 2022 if Ross was a “truthful man,” he replied: “Yes. And he’s dealing with the situation in Ukraine and he’s dealing with the situation at home here.”
Does Douglas Ross regret calling Boris Johnson an "honest man", and will he miss him now he's gone? I spoke to him after FMQs to find out... pic.twitter.com/w2xUgxK1lI
— Abbi Garton-Crosbie is on maternity leave (@agc_reports) June 15, 2023
It was a comment that aged like milk and Ross eventually declined to say if he regretted his remarks when asked by The National.
Expletive banners
Ross’s career as a linesman is of course well documented and he was the target of a banner unveiled by the Green Brigade in match in February 2023.
While running the line for a tie at Parkhead, a banner was unveiled which read: “VAR DECISION: DOUGLAS ROSS IS A C***.”
The Scottish Tory leader didn’t seem overly phased though and when he finally did break his silence he said: “Look I saw the banner being unveiled, I don’t think anybody couldn’t see it given the size it was.
“My duty at Celtic Park was to run the line, to be an assistant referee, to support the referee team and that’s where my focus was for the entire 90 minutes.
“Look, others are looking into this. My focus during the 90 minutes is to get my decisions right and I’m just glad on the day my decisions were correct and we had a good Scottish Cup Tie.
“Ultimately my focus is on the pitch and others can make comments about my role as a referee and as a politician, but for 90 minutes my focus is on the football.”
Bizarre red card photos
Overall, the Tories’ General Election campaign hasn’t got off to a blinder and nothing summed it up more than this particular effort.
Ross (above) took to a football pitch apparently by himself to wave a big red card at a cardboard cut-out of the three most recent SNP leaders.
Campaigning at its absolute finest and most professional.
Mediocrity dig
During her time as first minister, Sturgeon had plenty of clashes with Ross. One particular highlight came when she told the Scottish Tory leader he would never reach the “dizzying heights of mediocrity”.
It was a remark which left the entire chamber in stitches with then-deputy first minister John Swinney looking like he might fall out his chair.
Sturgeon added: “Douglas Ross, I think, is the least popular elected leader in Scotland today.
“Perhaps if he spent a bit more time looking in the mirror, reflecting on the reasons for his party’s and his personal unpopularity and a bit less time thinking about the SNP, he might not be in the dire straits he is in right now.”
