Ex-crime journalist who was victim of doorstep acid attack announces Scottish Tory leadership bid

MSP Russell Findlay has announced his bid to succeed Douglas Ross as Scottish Tory leader.

Mr Findlay, a former journalist and the Conservatives’ justice spokesperson at Holyrood, is the first party member to officially enter the race.

Several colleagues have also been tipped as potential leadership candidates, including current deputy leader Meghan Gallacher, chairman Craig Hoy, and business, economic growth and tourism spokesperson Murdo Fraser.

Mr Ross previously announced he would step down as party leader following the general election.

It came amid criticism over the deselection of David Duguid as the candidate for the newly created seat of Aberdeenshire North and Moray East in the general election.

Mr Ross ran in Mr Duguid’s place and failed to be re-elected to Westminster – having previously been MP for Moray.

He will continue in his role as MSP for the Highlands and Islands.

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Mr Findlay has been the MSP for West Scotland since 2021.

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.

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Announcing his bid on Monday, Mr Russell said he believes his party has the “chance to change Scotland for the better”.

He said: “We must refocus our efforts from predominantly battling against independence to instead leading a patriotic conservative movement that stands for aspiration and ambition.

“People know we’re unionists. They need to find out why we’re conservatives.

“I’m a conservative because I trust people to make their own decisions. I think that any individual should be able to go as far in life as their own abilities and efforts can take them.”

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Mr Findlay said his party must set out a positive vision that “appeals to the interests, hopes and needs of ordinary people the length and breadth of Scotland”.

He added: “We have got to provide tangible, practical and pragmatic ideas and solutions that will change everyday lives for the better.

“I want to lead a new conservative movement on a mission to earn the right to govern one day.

“Join me as we build the conservative movement that Scotland needs.”

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Mr Findlay is being backed by Scottish parliament colleagues Rachael Hamilton, Miles Briggs and Douglas Lumsden.

Ms Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, posted on X: “Russell has the positivity and energy to win people over.

“That’s why I am backing him to be the next leader of the Scottish Tories.”

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