Russell Findlay has been leader for 10 minutes but already reeks of political death

Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says it is highly likely the new Scottish Tory leader will be off after the next Holyrood election.

Russell Findlay is the sixth Scottish Tory leader of the devolution era. The smart money is on him making way for number seven in less than two years.

Every indication is the Conservatives are hurtling towards a nightmare 2026 Holyrood result. They slumped to 12.7 per cent at the general election and opinion polls have them trundling along at similar levels.

Nigel Farage’s Reform party, which trounced the Scottish Tories in many constituencies on July 4, is forecast to win seats off their centre-right rival at Holyrood.

Douglas Ross kept his party in second place in 2021, but Findlay could fall behind the Lib Dems and Greens to come fifth. He has only been leader for ten minutes and already reeks of political death.

Ruth Davidson was a successful leader of the Scottish Tories, but she was hopeless in her first couple of years and was lucky not to face an early election. Findlay has no breathing room and has to lead his wounded party into an election that is galloping into view.

As the victim of an acid attack who threw off a hitman, Findlay has a political back story many voters will instinctively sympathise with. But he cannot dodge the laws of political gravity.

He is the leader of a toxic political brand that Scottish voters shun in their millions. He is in charge of the most divided group of MSPs at Holyrood - a legacy of Ross’ hapless leadership. And he is a novice who is uncertain on nearly every policy issue outwith criminal justice.

The Scottish Tories are on the downslope and Findlay is rolling to a heavy and painful defeat.

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