‘Rebel’ Ross installed as new Scottish Conservative leader

THE only minister to rebel over claims that Dominic Cummings broke lockdown rules has become the new leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

Douglas Ross, who quit his Scotland Office post in May as controversy mounted over the trip to Durham by Boris Johnson’s chief aide at the height of lockdown, was installed unopposed.

The vacancy arose after Jackson Carlaw, who succeeded Ruth Davidson as leader, quit due to concerns that he was proving ineffective in taking on the SNP’S Nicola Sturgeon, and with support for independence on the rise.

Mr Ross, currently an MP, will seek election to the Scottish Parliament in next May’s vote. Until then, Ms Davidson has agreed to stand in at First Minister’s Questions, until she departs Holyrood next year to take up a seat in the House of Lords.

Mr Ross plans to remain an MP even after his expected election to Holyrood, and he told The Daily Telegraph that holding a seat in both parliaments would allow him to better represent Scotland. He promised to donate one of his potential salaries to good causes in his local area, saying: “I think it’s absolutely right to do that.”

He denied that he would be overshadowed by Ms Davidson, who is already well known to voters.

“There is only one leader in this party, that is me. But it’s a united party, with renewed vigour, that I will lead into the election next year,” he said.

Mr Ross, 37, has insisted he is standing to become First Minister in next year’s elections, despite the SNP having an overwhelming lead in the polls. Mr Johnson yesterday congratulated him, saying: “I look forward to working with Douglas to promote Scotland’s place in our United Kingdom.”

Mr Ross also pledged to keep an “open mind” on totemic issues in Scottish politics. It has been suggested that the Scottish Tories could back free tuition fees for the next election, a stark contrast with the party’s position south of the border where students are charged up to £9,250 per year.

Mr Ross said: “I’m going to be looking at all the policies the Scottish Conservatives have put forward in the past, but also alternative policies that we can take to the people of Scotland.”