Ross is ‘haunted’ by past remarks

DOUGLAS Ross has admitted making “loads” of mistakes as a politician, including blunders in speeches and interviews that have “come back to haunt” him.

The Scottish Tory leader also conceded Brexit was causing the fishing industry “significant problems” with new bureaucracy.

He tried to distance himself from Boris Johnson, insisting he would lead his party’s election campaign, while the Prime Minister would merely “play a role”.

The Moray MP and former MSP , who is planning to return to Holyrood in May, made the comments in an online conversation with the Bright Blue think-tank.

Asked if there were mistakes in his political career he regretted, he said: “Yes, loads. I mean, almost every week I’m thinking, ‘God, could I have done that differently? Did I listen to this piece of advice?

“I was a junior minister in the Scotland Office, and you’re looking at things... ‘Could I have done this better? Was that a mistake?’

“I don’t think any politician should ever say they have never made a mistake.

“I’ve said things in speeches that I’ve gone on to regret. I’ve answered quick-fire questions that have come back to haunt me. So throughout my political career there have been things I would have done differently.”

Asked for an example, Mr Ross referred to a quick-fire Q&A after he was elected as an MP in 2017.

Asked what he would do if he was Prime Minister for a day, he prioritised “tougher enforcement against gypsy travellers”.

He was accused of attacking an already persecuted minority.

“There are a multiple of better, different answers I could have given than the one I gave about a local issue here about enforcement against gypsy travellers,” he said.