I’ll aim to be First Minister

Ross says saving Union will be his ‘absolute priority’

TORY leadership hopeful Douglas Ross yesterday said he intends to win next year’s Holyrood election and has set his sights on becoming First Minister.

the Moray MP yesterday said he planned to oust Nicola sturgeon as he confirmed his bid to replace Jackson Carlaw as the leader of the scottish Conservatives.

speaking to the scottish Daily Mail, he said protecting the Union will be an ‘absolute priority’ for his party as he pledged to fight Nicola sturgeon on her ‘failings’ – by shining a light on education, health, and policing in scotland.

He said he will essentially be running on a ‘joint-ticket’ with ex-leader Ruth Davidson, who will play a key role in his party.

asked whether he will be fighting to become First Minister at the election next year, Mr Ross said: ‘absolutely. if i win the leadership of the scottish Conservatives i will be saying that because i think every leader of every party in scotland should be aiming for that. You don’t enter a race to come second and i’ve shown time and time again, if i am in it, it’s in it to win it.

‘People need to know we are serious challengers again, that’s why i am bringing Ruth Davidson back into the front line of scottish politics to stand up against Nicola sturgeon week in, week out.’

Mr Ross said the people of scotland are ‘crying out for an alternative because they have been let down by the SNP’.

He raised serious concerns over what he claims are the First Minister’s failures to provide adequate support for businesses during the pandemic. Mr Ross could be crowned leader as early as Wednesday with the party’s management board yesterday setting a deadline for nominations.

it is understood the Moray MP will run unopposed – with poten

‘Don’t enter a race to come second’ ‘Crying out for an alternative’

challenger Michelle Ballantyne MSP ruling herself out.

Mr Ross has insisted he will continue to serve his constituency at Westminster, but he will stand for a seat at Holyrood in the May 2021 election on the Highland and islands regional list.

tim Eagle is already standing for the tories in the Moray seat.

Mr Ross represented the region at Holyrood after being elected in 2016, but left to become an MP after ousting EX-SNP deputy leader angus Robertson at the snap general election in 2017.

Yesterday Miss Davidson said her colleague had the ‘vision, drive and energy’ to take the party forward.

as well as taking the fight to Miss sturgeon in a bid to stop scottish independence and build support for the Union, Mr Ross said a key part of his strategy will be to build strong policy on devolved areas such as education and health.

He said: ‘as a strong opposition we have to be highlighting these issues because the SNP has failed in many areas where they have sole control whether it’s education, whether it’s the health service, whether it’s rebuilding our economy.’

Mr Ross said the SNP had ‘no plan for businesses following the Covid-19 pandemic’ and pledged to ensure business and jobs were a top priority for his party.

He added: ‘People are crying out for an alternative because they have been let down by the SNP, so we have to focus on the issues that matter to people day in day out – and that’s the economy, ensuring we have safer streets, it’s ensuring we have good jobs for people to go into and a positive environment for businesses go into.’

Mr Ross said a plan is the ‘very least’ people can expect, adding: ‘We have gone through a global pandemic that has affected the lives of every single person in scotland, across the UK and around the world. it is absolutely right for people to expect a plan. there have been too many failings by the scottish Government whether it’s in education, in justice, whether it’s in the lack of support for local government, whether it’s in ensuring the NHs is properly equipped not just during a pandemic but through normal times as well. and building this economic recovery that the country is crying out for.’

Mr Ross said he had decided to put himself forward for the leadership following discussions with colleagues and had spoken with his wife, Krystle, before confirming he intended to stand.

He said: ‘she has always been extremely supportive, but i know it’s going to be a pressure on my family. We have a young son but Krystle was fully on board. i need that behind me for the challenges we are going to face in the next ten months and beyond.’

Mr Ross has also said he will not give up his role as an assistant reftial eree. He said: ‘While other leaders are allowed time away – whether that is reading a book, or going hill walking, whether it is a multitude of hobbies, mine happens to be a very public one but it’s one i find keeps me grounded.

‘in the political world, i think it is useful to sometimes experience a bit more of life outside the political bubble and operating at the highest level in scotland and officiating in matches across the country helps me to do that.’

However, he hopes this does not raise his profile as currently people only recognise him after making a ‘howler’ while running the line.