Russell Findlay Chosen as New Leader of Scottish Conservatives
Russell Findlay, a former crime journalist, has been chosen as the new leader of the Scottish Conservatives. He takes on the role after one of the party’s most challenging times.
Acknowledging a Threat
Findlay highlighted that the Scottish Conservatives face a serious threat from the Reform Party. He stressed the importance of listening to the thousands of voters who shifted to Reform UK during the general election. He says reconnecting with these voters is vital to reviving the party.
“We know their support in the general election was significant,” Findlay said after he was appointed leader in Edinburgh. “Our job is to engage with those who feel let down by politics and show them that we represent their concerns.”
Winning the Leadership
Findlay, who joined the Scottish Parliament three years ago, won the leadership contest easily, securing 61.7% of the first preference votes. Out of the 4,155 Scottish Tory members who voted, 2,565 supported Findlay. His nearest competitor, Murdo Fraser, received 1,187 votes, while Meghan Gallacher, the former deputy leader, received 403.
This leadership contest was one of the most heated recently, with rival camps engaging in intense disputes. The race also saw tensions between Gallacher and John Lamont, the shadow Scottish secretary, and claims that former leader Douglas Ross tried to appoint Findlay as his successor last year.
Ross’s Downfall
Ross’s departure as leader followed a rebellion in the party. He had removed David Duguid, a well-liked candidate recovering from a serious injury, and took the nomination for himself in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East. However, Ross lost his Westminster seat to the Scottish National Party candidate, with Reform UK gaining 5,562 votes—far more than the 942-vote margin of his defeat.
Across Scotland, Reform UK won 7% of the general election vote. It has raised concerns that Reform could gain seats in the 2026 Holyrood elections, most likely at the expense of the Conservatives. The Scottish Tories, currently holding 31 seats in the Scottish Parliament, saw their vote share drop to just 12.7% in the general election, down 12.4 points from 2019.
Challenges Ahead for Findlay
Findlay now faces the difficult task of winning back Reform voters while keeping the Scottish Conservatives appealing to moderate, pro-union voters, many of whom supported Labour in the general election. The former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson supported his leadership bid and praised Findlay as the best candidate to maintain the party’s “one-nation” approach.
In his first remarks as leader, Findlay confirmed his intention to keep the party focused on a centre-right position, even if that leads to disagreements with the UK Conservative Party. He said he prefers to handle policy differences privately but admitted he disagrees with some UK Conservative leaders who want Britain to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.
Murdo Fraser’s Support
Murdo Fraser, who had previously run for leadership against Davidson in 2011, has pledged his support for Findlay. He stressed that the party’s priority is understanding why voters are moving to Reform UK. “We need to win them back not by adopting Nigel Farage’s agenda, but by addressing the frustrations of people who feel the Conservatives have let them down,” Fraser said.
Findlay’s Vision
Findlay expressed his gratitude on social media for being elected, calling it “an absolute privilege.” He added, “The hard work starts now. Under my leadership, we’re going to change. We’ll represent everyone who wants some common sense in politics.”
After a brief but intense leadership race, Findlay, a relative political newcomer, emerged as the clear favorite. Backed by several influential party members, including Ruth Davidson and many Holyrood backbenchers, Findlay won the leadership after Douglas Ross stepped down following a backlash.
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