Scottish Conservative leadership election

The early reaction to Findlay’s victory may be positive from
the Tory side, but he is unlikely to be given an easy ride by opposition parties.

Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, said a new
leader would do nothing to prevent the party’s “downward slide”.

She said: “The Tories still owe Scots an apology for
gambling with families’ savings, crashing the economy and sending bills soaring
while putting party before country.”

SNP MSP Kevin Stewart accused the Conservatives of being “totally
divided and distracted by infighting”, adding that Findlay had “no desire to stand up for Scotland’s interests”.

He said: “They have finally managed to swap out one of two lame duck
leaders – but defeated Rishi Sunak is still pulling the strings until November,
as what feels like the longest leadership contest in history rumbles on.

Meanwhile, Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton described
the job as a “hospital pass” and said the party was “in decline”.

He added Findlay may struggle to “escape his record
of cheering on Liz Truss” after backing the former PM before her short term at
Downing Street.