Russell Findlay elected new Scottish Conservative leader

Russell Findlay has been elected as the new leader of the Scottish Tories and has pledged to “change” the party.

The MSP saw off competition from colleagues Murdo Fraser and Meghan Gallacher, securing 62 per cent of the vote.

In a speech following the announcement of the result, Findlay said he understood the frustration much of the electorate felt with politics generally and with his party in particular.

He said: “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.”

The new leader won 2,565 votes to Fraser’s 1,187 and Gallacher’s 403.

The total number of votes cast in the election was 4,155 – a turnout of 60 per cent of the 6,941 members.

Findlay did not commit to including either of his opponents in his new frontbench team, saying such announcements would be “premature”. But he added he “wants the best people in the very best positions for their abilities”.

He also issued a rallying call to the Tory MSP group, which has been marred by infighting under the leadership of Douglas Ross.

“Unity is fundamental,” he said, adding: “We need to get our house in order, we need to be building the team, we need to start listening to our colleagues and to our members, respecting them, and talking to the public.”

And on the threat posed by right-wing Reform UK, he said it was necessary for his party to “reconnect” with those voters.

The leadership contest was triggered after Ross announced his resignation before the general election in July. Findlay was broadly expected to win to race and was seen as the choice of the party establishment.

The UK Conservative party leadership race is ongoing, with members to hear from the four remaining candidates at the party conference this weekend.

Findlay said he had deliberately not commented on the race, but pressed on a major issue in the campaign – whether the UK should remain party to the European Court of Human Rights – he said he backed continued membership.

However he added that “nothing so far has worked” in dealing with people smuggling and small boats, and therefore it was right for his party to consider other options.

Responding to his election, Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said it would not 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.”

SNP MSP Kevin 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.”