Douglas Ross eyes return to Westminster as he confirms he will stand down as an MSP

Former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has announced he will stand down as an MSP in 2026 - because he wants to get back into Westminster.

Ross resigned the leadership of his party last summer in the midst of a general election candidacy row.

The politician, who spent years "double-jobbing" as both an MP and an MSP, said he would not seek reelection to the UK Parliament in July, before making an eleventh hour U-turn and becoming the Tory candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East.

The move saw fellow Westminster veteran David Duguid unable to run in the new constituency and caused upset in the party.

After an unsuccessful campaign, Ross moved to the Holyrood backbenches and Russell Findlay became the new Scottish Tory leader.

Now Ross has confirmed he will step down as an MSP ahead of next year's Scottish Parliament vote.

In a statement, the Highlands and Islands MSP said that is because he wants to become an MP again.

He said: "A year out from the Scottish Parliament election feels like the right time to confirm that I will not be a candidate for Holyrood next year."

Thanking his wife Krystle and children Alistair and James, Ross went on: "In the general election last year I said I would stand down as an MSP if elected. As I hope to stand for Westminster again at the next general election, I believe it is right that I don't seek election to Holyrood in 2026.

"I will however work flat out to support Russell Findlay and the team to return as many Scottish Conservative MSPs as possible next May.

"Over the next year I also look forward to continuing to raise local issues on behalf of constituents in parliament; maintaining the approach I've taken as convener of the education committee; and steering the Right to Addiction Recovery Bill through parliament which would be a game changing piece of legislation to tackle Scotland's appalling drug and alcohol death rates."

Commenting, Andrew Bowie MP said: "As a councillor, MSP, MP and as leader of the Scottish Tories, the hard work and commitment of Douglas to our party and country has been immense. Leading us to secure our greatest number of votes in 2021, stopping an SNP majority, we owe Douglas a huge debt of gratitude."

Murdo Fraser MSP said Ross "will be a loss to our Holyrood group, but I’m sure he will be back soon at Westminster as he hopes". Colleague Stephen Kerr stated: "I'm sorry to see Douglas leave Holyrood. He brings a great deal to the Scottish Conservative group and to the parliament as a whole. I wish him all the best for whatever comes next."