Politics

Russell Findlay replaces Douglas Ross as new leader of the Scottish Conservatives

Russell Findlay replaces Douglas Ross as new leader of the Scottish Conservatives

Russell Findlay has been elected the new leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

The MSP saw off competition from Murdo Fraser and Meghan Gallacher in the bruising battle to replace Douglas Ross.

Mr Findlay won with 2,565 votes on a turnout of 60%. Mr Fraser placed second with 1,187 votes, while Ms Gallacher claimed third with 403 votes.

The announcement comes ahead of the UK Conservative Party revealing Rishi Sunak’s successor on 2 November.

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Ms Gallacher, Mr Fraser and Mr Findlay on Friday. Pic: PA

Following his win, Mr Findlay said he “greatly” respected and valued Mr Fraser and Ms Gallacher.

He added: “Now, everyone in our party must come together as one united team.

“Let’s start the hard work right now – today – to win back public trust. And I want to deliver a message directly to people across Scotland who don’t feel anyone represents them.

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“Who are scunnered by the divisive policies and fringe obsessions of the Scottish parliament. Who feel let down and failed by politicians of every party – including ours.

“Who think politicians are all the same. If you feel that way, I get it. But I am not the same. I’m not a career politician.”

Mr Findlay said he understood voters’ “frustration”.

He added: “Under my leadership the Scottish Conservatives are going to change. We will work hard to earn your trust by doing things differently.

“We will be a voice for decent, mainstream Scotland and for the values of hard work, self-reliance and fairness for taxpayers.

“We’ll spend all our time and energy on your concerns, your hopes and your needs.

“We know you don’t expect miracles from politicians. We know you just want some common sense, for a change. And we are determined to deliver it.”

Russell Findlay after being announced as the new Scottish Conservatives leader, at the Radisson Hotel in Edinburgh. A leadership election was called after Douglas Ross announced he was standing down following the general election. Picture date: Friday September 27, 2024.
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Mr Findlay after his win on Friday. Pic: PA

Mr Findlay has been the MSP for West Scotland since 2021 and is currently the party’s justice spokesperson at Holyrood.

He has worked as a journalist for STV News, the Scottish Sun and the Sunday Mail.

His investigation into the disappearance of Margaret Fleming was used to help prosecute her killers.

As an author, Mr Findlay has written books on gangland crime and was the victim of an acid attack in 2015 when an assailant appeared on his doorstep disguised as a postman.

In 2017, the attacker was handed a 15-year extended sentence, with 10 years in jail and five years on licence once released back into the community.

Russell Findlay MSP with supporters at his leadership campaign launch. Pic: Dave Johnson
Image:
Mr Findlay with supporters at his leadership campaign launch. Pic: Dave Johnson

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Six Scottish Tory MSPs initially announced bids to succeed Mr Ross, who will continue in his role as MSP for the Highlands and Islands.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, during a General Election special edition of BBC Debate Night with the leaders of the five main Scottish parties answering questions in Glasgow. Picture date: Tuesday June 11, 2024.
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Douglas Ross. Pic: PA

Brian Whittle, Liam Kerr and Jamie Greene dropped out of the race ahead of the ballot and threw their support behind Mr Fraser.

Mr Findlay, Mr Fraser and Ms Gallacher each secured the 100 nominations required to continue and took part in hustings across Scotland as they sought to convince party members why they were the best person for the job.

During his campaign launch, Mr Fraser called on Mr Findlay and Ms Gallacher to drop their bids and join his team – essentially coronating him as leader.

Scottish Conservative leadership candidate Murdo Fraser with supporters after speaking at the Royal George Hotel, Perth, at the launch of his campaign to succeed Douglas Ross as the leader of the party. Picture date: Thursday August 22, 2024.
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Mr Fraser with supporters at his leadership campaign launch. Pic: PA

In response, Mr Findlay said he’d always been “opposed to a coronation, of myself or anyone else”.

He added: “Our members should decide the next leader. Not any small group of people at Holyrood.”

Mr Findlay, who received the backing of former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, was regarded by some as the favourite to replace Mr Ross.

During the competition, MSP Mr Kerr apologised after branding ally Mr Fraser’s leadership campaign as “awful”.

In a series of posts accidentally published as status updates to his WhatsApp profile, Mr Kerr criticised Mr Fraser’s bid despite publicly backing him.

“I’m beginning to wish I’d nominated Meghan,” Mr Kerr wrote, in reference to Ms Gallacher.

File photo dated 29/04/23 of deputy leader of the Scottish Conservative Party Meghan Gallacher MSP speaking on the second day of the Scottish Conservative party conference. Meghan Gallacher will use her speech to her party's conference on Friday to demand First Minister Humza Yousaf rips up the SNP's powersharing agreement with the Greens. Issue date: Friday March 1, 2024.
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Ms Gallacher. Pic: PA

The contentious contest also saw former deputy leader Ms Gallacher lodging a complaint to the party against Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP John Lamont.

Following a call between the pair, Ms Gallacher was said to have been concerned she would be deselected ahead of the Holyrood election in 2026.

Mr Lamont, who backed rival Mr Findlay, strongly denied any wrongdoing and said he was “considering further action including legal options”.

Mr Findlay is expected to unveil his frontbench team at Holyrood next week.

Ahead of that, he will deliver a speech during Saturday’s celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the Scottish parliament.

And on Sunday, he will be on stage at the UK Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.