Russell Findlay has been announced as the new leader of the Scottish Tories.

The former crime journalist turned West of Scotland MSP beat party veteran Murdo Fraser and former deputy leader Meghan Gallacher.

The result was announced on Friday after a tumultuous five-week contest full of what Scottish Conservatives describe as "blue on blue attacks".

He will replace Douglas Ross as leader in Holyrood, grilling John Swinney for the first time at First Minister's Questions on Thursday.

Mr Findlay was widely considered to be the favourite to win throughout the contest, and was regularly dubbed the "establishment candidate" by his opponents.

He gained the backing of all five Scottish Tory MPs, a raft a MSPs and former leader Ruth Davidson.


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However, Mr Findlay has inherited a difficult legacy from his predecessor, who was forced out of the role after he announced his candidacy in the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat at the general election.

It was in place of popular former MP David Duguid who was recovering from a spinal stroke and said he was "deselected" despite being willing and able to run for the Westminster seat.

That caused divisions with Scottish Tory MSPs after Mr Ross previously said he would stand down from Westminster to focus on his Holyrood responsibilities.

Mr Ross ultimately lost the seat, gifting the SNP their only gain of the election and adding to a significant overall Conservative defeat.

Mr Findlay will immediately be faced with addressing the disunity in the party and creating a strong strategy for the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.

The Conservatives lost almost half of its vote share at the general election in July, and polling suggests Reform could be looking to take many of their seats in Holyrood.

But before that, Mr Findlay will meet the King, making a speech alongside other leaders, to mark the 25th anniversary of devolution in the Scottish Parliament on Saturday.

He will then undertake a number of engagements in Birmingham for the Conservative Party conference, before returning to Holyrood to appoint his frontbench team.