As the dust settles on the general election of 2024 and with apologies to the political phobes among you, eyes now turn to the Holyrood elections coming to a polling station near you in 2026 or sooner.

Without doubt, the Tories took a pasting in July; paying the price for a number of missteps, policy errors, erratic leadership and, to be frank, probably one scandal too many.

Scots Tories also faired none too well, with vote share falling below 5% in all six Glasgow seats, which should form the sharpest of wake-up calls to all of us who think that policies and values encouraging opportunity, decency and aspiration are already underrepresented in the Scottish Parliament.

I consider the leadership race for the Scottish Conservatives, taking place alongside that of the national party, to be of far more significance to Scotland’s immediate future as we, hopefully, near the end of the stranglehold that the SNP’s constitutional obsession has held on Scotland’s politics for almost two decades now.

I admire and respect the work of all of the candidates for leadership, but I believe that only one can rise to the challenge of putting, front and centre, the principles of Scottish Conservatism which will align with the hopes of Scots and, in particular, Glaswegians.

That candidate is Russell Findlay.  

Russell, like me, came to politics after having a career elsewhere in the “real world” so important now in an environment where voters are seemingly tired of what they perceive to be career politicians.

As a respected crime reporter, he earned the trust of victims and was able to witness, first hand, the inadequacies of the SNP justice system, at one point at the risk of his own personal safety. This helped motivate him to become an MSP and affect real change. 

Russell has proven that he is not afraid to take a stand against the cosy left-wing consensus which governs Holyrood, taking a principled stand against the disastrous SNP/Green gender reform legislation which made headlines across the world; making Scotland look progressive but foolhardy. 

I would like to think that the next Scottish election marks the point when we stop talking about the SNP’s divisive constitutional agenda, which has cut a wedge across our country for far too long, and start talking about health, education, local services, and setting a course to grow Scotland’s economy in order to improve life chances for all.

I’m supporting Russell Findlay as I believe he has the knowledge, experience and teambuilding skills to consolidate the Scottish Conservatives as, yes, the party of the Union but also to set the broader agenda that will chime with voters across the country but particularly here in Glasgow.

Tories have to shake off the bogeyman image that we have allowed the SNP and Labour to create and prove to Scots that we are the party that has their best interests at heart.  Be it in the economy or education we have to show that personal ambition and aspiration are at the centre of what we do. That way we raise the life chances and experiences of all.

In health, we continue to show our commitment to a properly funded but efficiently organised NHS with patients as a focus.  And in the justice system, we need to show that Tory values are Scots values taking a stand against the SNP soft touch policies.

Russell Findlay will provide strong, focused leadership allowing us to show that we are the party most able to protect the Union by providing a prosperous, safe and content country for all.