Former Scottish Tory leader to stand down as MSP

Angus Cochrane

BBC Scotland News

Douglas Ross stepped down as party leader after his decision to stand in last year’s general election went down badly with colleagues

Getty Images A man with dark, wearing a dark blue suit and tie, speaks with his right hand raised in front of him. He is standing in front of a Scottish Conservative-branded background — Douglas Ross stepped down as party leader after his decision to stand in last year’s general election went down badly with colleagues

Former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross is to stand down as an MSP at next year’s Holyrood election.

The Highlands and Islands MSP confirmed he would seek to return to the UK Parliament, where he previously served as MP for Moray.

Ross resigned as party leader after his decision to stand in last summer’s general election was criticised by colleagues.

He said: “As I hope to stand for Westminster again at the next general election, I believe it is right that I don’t seek election to Holyrood in 2026.”

In a statement, Ross added he would work “flat out” to support his successor as party leader, Russell Findlay, “to return as many Scottish Conservative MSPs as possible next May”.

Ross has previously been criticised for holding dual roles at Holyrood and Westminster while being a professional football assistant referee

PA Media A man with dark hair jogs across a football pitch while holding a fluorescent referee's flag and red and black refereeing uniform. Footballer players, a stand and goal posts can be seen in the background. — Ross has previously been criticised for holding dual roles at Holyrood and Westminster while being a professional football assistant referee

Ross angered colleagues ahead of last year’s general election after announcing he would stand for the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat instead of party colleague David Duguid, who had been ill in hospital and was effectively de-selected.

Ross initially insisted he could continue to serve as an MSP, MP and party leader.

He later said he realised it would not be “feasible”.

The Highlands and Islands stepped down as party leader after four years in the role.

He has been an MSP for the Highlands and Islands region since 2016.

Until last summer he was MP for Moray, having ousted former SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson in a shock victory in 2017.

Ross, who is also a professional football assistant referee, was branded “three jobs” by his opponents during his time as Scottish Conservative leader.

He is the latest high-profile figure to announce their departure from Holyrood ahead of next May’s election.

Former first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, as well as ex-Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, are among those who will not seek re-election.

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