Scottish Conservatives leader Russell Findlay suffers 'bitter blow' after supporting Liz Truss

Findlay has faced a backlash for previously backing Truss to become Prime Minister in 2022.

The new leader of the Scottish Conservatives has suffered a "bitter blow" after a new poll found Scots would be less likely to vote for someone who previously supported Liz Truss. Russell Findlay took charge of the Tories at Holyrood earlier this month after replacing the gaffe-prone Douglas Ross.

But the new party leader has faced a backlash for previously backing Truss to become Prime Minister in 2022. Her disastrous spell in Downing Street almost crashed the UK economy and sent interest rates spiralling.

Polling carried out by Savanta has now found 31 per cent of Scots would be less likely to vote Conservative if their new leader had backed Truss - while just four per cent said they would be more likely to back the Tories.

Findlay later apologised for his endorsement and moaned: "I don’t think it is reasonable to think I could have foreseen how events transpired."

During the leadership election in 2022, the Tory MSP published a video endorsing Truss’ "positive vision" and hailed her as "optimistic and authentic".

Wendy Chamberlain, Scottish Lib Dems deputy leader, said: "This polling will be a bitter blow for the new Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay. The Scottish public will have little sympathy for anyone who was happily cheerleading for Liz Truss. Her disastrous decisions sent mortgage costs skyrocketing and deepened the cost-of-living crisis. It makes Russell Findlay’s judgment look deeply suspect.

"Former Conservative voters abandoned the party in massive numbers at the last election. In so many places across the country, people are backing the Liberal Democrats who are speaking up for them on the issues that matter most like bringing down NHS waiting lists, tackling the cost-of-living crisis and stopping the sewage scandal."

Scottish politics

• Shipbuilder goes into administration
• Games 'likely' to return to Glasgow
• Scottish Labour 'losing members'
• SNP told to 'take responsibility'

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: "What voters are really tired of is the cosy left-wing consensus at Holyrood and the Scottish political establishment that prioritises fringe obsessions over issues that affect families in the real world. The Lib Dems lined up with the SNP and Labour to support radical gender reforms that were completely at odds with the values of mainstream Scotland.

"Their Scottish leader Alex Cole-Hamilton then thoroughly embarrassed himself personally during the scandal where the double rapist Isla Bryson was sent to a women's prison, which demonstrated how detached from the real world the Scottish Parliament has become.

"Under Russell Findlay’s leadership the Scottish Conservatives will be different. He gets why people have lost trust in politics and we will stand up for everyone who just wants their politicians to show some common sense for a change."

Asked about his decision to endorse Truss, Findlay previously said: "We all get things wrong. I got that wrong. Our number one job as Conservatives is to look after the country’s finances, to be responsible, and she didn’t do that.”

Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!

Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.

You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.

All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!

If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.

To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, clickhere

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.