Tory MSPs line up to back former crime journalist Russell Findlay to replace Douglas Ross as leader

Several Scottish Tory MSPs have backed a former crime journalist to run to replace Douglas Ross as the party’s leader.

Russell Findlay hasn’t officially put his hat in the ring but has already received support from a number of his colleagues at Holyrood.

The West Scotland MSP has strongly signalled that he will stand for the leadership and has emerged as the early favourite.

Miles Briggs, Rachael Hamilton and Douglas Lumsden have all lined up to give their backing to the former reporter.

The race is on - although not officially - to replace Douglas Ross has the leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. — The race is on – although not officially – to replace Douglas Ross has the leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.

Before entering politics, Findlay had worked for decades as a journalist at STV News, the Scottish Sun and the Sunday Mail.

He left his job as an investigative crime reporter after suffering an acid attack and, having previously served as Tory justice spokesperson, has spoken about his own experience of the justice system.

Despite the MSP already emerging as the party frontrunner though, up to nine MSPs are reported to be considering running for the top job.

That would represent nearly a third of the party’s 31 MSPs, one of which is the current leader and another is a former leader.

The race, which hasn’t officially got under way, has already been subject to some infighting.

Some Tory figures reportedly accused those favouring Findlay of attacking potential rivals following negative coverage in newspapers on deputy party leader Meghan Gallacher and backbencher Jamie Greene.

Meghan Gallacher is considering running for the Scottish Tory leadership. Getty Images

It’s the second leadership battle Scottish Tory members will vote in after Rishi Sunak announced the day after the General Election that he would step down due to the Conservatives’ disastrous election result.

Ross, who took over the party from Jackson Carlaw in 2020, had already announced his intention to step down prior to the vote.

That came after a row about his decision to stand in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East in place of David Duguid, who the party said was too ill to campaign. Duguid denies this.

There was further fury among Tory ranks though because Ross had previously pledged to stand down as an MSP and focus on his job as an MSP leading the party at Holyrood.

His last-minute decision to stand, which failed, ultimately led to him announcing his resignation.

The Scottish Conservative vote share collapsed at the General Election, almost halving to 12.7% while the UK party suffered its worst defeat ever.

For some, that has brought back with it a renewed push for the Scottish party to split from the UK one.

That was previously proposed by MSP Murdo Fraser in 2011 when he ran – and lost – against Ruth Davidson in the party’s leadership battle back then.

Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith has said the idea “has to be part of the mix” this time around while Greene, touted as a potential leadership contender, said he was “open-minded” about it.