The new leader of the Scottish Conservates – elected just last Friday – has already had a busy time, making a speech to the Conservative Conference in Birmingham and vowing that he will “stand up to nationalists” in an attempt to block Scottish independence being debated.

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Today, however, one of our readers argues that Mr Findlay has a thankless task ahead of him.

Ruth Marr of Stirling writes:

"It is hard to know whether to congratulate or commiserate with Russell Findlay on his becoming leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party in Scotland. The Tories have been coy about the number of members they had in Scotland, and no wonder. We now know they have shrunk to around only 7,000 members, and it would be interesting to know the age group of these members and how many of them can be called upon for active campaigning, to deliver the leaflets and knock on the doors.

Mr Findlay has declared that he wants to 'change' the party; an unfortunate choice of word given that we are still reeling from the last guy who promised change. But of course, any changes Mr Findlay may want to make will be subject to the approval of his new boss at Westminster who takes over in November, and whose priority will be to claw back the votes of Middle England. Just like Labour, the Tories in Scotland are only a branch office, with the real power firmly rooted in London. So, no change there then."