Ruth Davidson backs Russell Findlay in Tory leadership race

Ruth Davidson has declared her support for Russell Findlay in the Scottish Conservative leadership election.  

The former Scottish Tory leader said the “next leader must build the party up, not split it up”.  

Writing in the Scottish Daily Mail, Davidson said that Findlay has the ability to “take the fight” to the SNP.

She also noted Findlay’s stance against opening a commission that would seek to examine the possibility of loosening ties with the UK party, arguing it would ultimately end up looking to sever ties.  

Davidson noted her displeasure that the “lessons of those years of progress”, in which the party had 13 MPs elected to Westminster in 2016 and a year later doubled its seats at the Scottish Parliament, making it the official party of opposition, have been “forgotten” by some of her former colleagues at Holyrood.  

In her column, she argued that the Scottish Tories must return to being a party of aspiration and opportunity that speaks to mainstream Scotland.

She said that Findlay “ticks all the right boxes”, citing his previous 30-year career as a journalist and saying that that experience gives a “natural understanding of the concerns of mainstream voters”.  

Davidson wrote: “I believe our party’s best chance for future success lies with Russell Findlay as our new leader.  

“He has the vision, the grit, the ability and the support to take the fight to the SNP.

“To be honest, I find it a bit depressing how the lessons of those years of progress seem to have been forgotten by some of my former colleagues in the Scottish Parliament.”

She condemned the idea that the party should separate from the UK party and the suggestion from other candidates that it should seek to open a commission that would explore loosening ties.  

Davidson described the idea as a Trojan horse that would split up the party “by stealth”.  

She said: “Are we really going to replay the stale old argument from 2011 that says we need to split away from the UK party, or create a new party which only contests Holyrood elections?

“That idea was put forward by several candidates at the outset of this contest. Then came a slightly different proposal in its place – a ‘commission’ to examine ‘loosening ties’ with the UK party.

“Does its proponent take our members for fools? Some have called it a ‘Trojan horse’ plan to split the party by stealth – which is exactly how I see it, too.

“This ‘commission’ – which I believe is really just a backdoor means to separate the party – is entirely the wrong approach to take and I was pleased to see Mr Findlay stand up firmly against it.” 

Murdo Fraser, one of Findlay rivals in the race, posted to X today: “Thanks to all those new supporters pledging their backing after last night’s @ScotTories hustings in Galashiels.

“Not being the establishment candidate, I am relying on the votes of individual members, and am hugely thankful to those responding to my case for real change.”