RUSSELL Findlay has “no desire to stand up for Scotland”, the SNP have said, after the former journalist won the Scottish Tory leadership by a considerable margin.
Findlay has replaced Douglas Ross after seeing off competition from ex-depute leader of the party Meghan Gallacher and veteran MSP Murdo Fraser, garnering more than half the votes cast in the three-way contest.
SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said while the Tories now have a new face at the head of the party, Findlay’s track record – which includes having backed Liz Truss to be Tory leader – suggests he will be no different to his predecessors.
Stewart said: "The face of Tory politics in Scotland may have changed, but Russell Findlay’s track record shows he has no desire to stand up for Scotland’s interests.
"The Tories head into their party conference totally divided and distracted by infighting.
"They have finally managed to swap out one of two lame duck leaders – but defeated Rishi Sunak is still pulling the strings until November, as what feels like the longest leadership contest in history rumbles on.
"Just months after the election, an array of scandals has already proven to voters that Labour and the Tories are one and the same. Only the SNP is focussed on the issues that matter to the people of Scotland like eradicating child poverty."
The leadership contest was rocky at times, with Fraser – who came second – suggesting that the “party machine” was against him.
Gallacher also resigned as deputy leader of the party after saying she was "deeply troubled" by reports that Ross allegedly asked Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey Tory candidate Kathleen Robertson if he could replace her in July 2023 – a claim he has denied.
Fraser said it was time to move on and get behind Findlay, although he hinted he wouldn’t mind a frontbench job.
“I think it’s important we put the events of the last few weeks behind us,” he told the media.
“If Russell wants to offer me a role in his team I’d be very happy to accept that.”
He added: “It has been quite a fractious contest, I should say that’s not been personal between the candidates. Russell, Meghan and I have got on extremely well. Some of what we have seen has come from people, perhaps, behind the scenes.
“It’s important now we focus on who our real enemies are and we don’t spend anymore time looking internally as a party.”
Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, said Findlay's victory showed the Tories "determination" to hold onto the title of "nasty party" as he once supported Liz Truss to become prime minister.
“I’d obviously congratulate Russell Findlay on his election, but it does seem to confirm that the Scottish Tories are determined to hold on to the title of the nasty party, and to lurch ever further to the right," Harvie said.
“Like his colleagues, he was a cheerleader for Liz Truss, urging the Scottish Government to copy her disastrous plans.
"He backed the undermining of the Scottish Parliament through Section 35 and the new Internal Market Act. He’d rather cut taxes on the rich than fund public services. He’s an enthusiastic supporter of the Tory culture war agenda, punching down against marginalised people at every opportunity.
“In short, he’s probably a good fit for all the worst instincts of the Conservative Party."
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said a change of leadership will “do nothing to stop the Tories’ downward slide”.
She added: “The Tories still owe Scots an apology for gambling with families’ savings, crashing the economy and sending bills soaring while putting party before country.
“The 2024 election made it clear that voters want change, not a return to the rotten Tory government of the past.”
