Russell Findlay has been elected as the new leader of the Scottish Conservatives, pledging to revitalize the party and "win back public trust." The former journalist triumphed over Murdo Fraser and Meghan Gallacher in a ballot of party members following Douglas Ross's resignation during the general election campaign.

Findlay, who has represented the West of Scotland as an MSP since 2021 and served as the party's justice spokesman, expressed his commitment to addressing the concerns of voters who feel alienated by the "fringe obsessions" of the Scottish Parliament. He emphasized the need for unity within the party after a "bruising" campaign that saw allegations of interference from some candidates.

Out of 6,941 eligible party members, 4,155 voted, resulting in a turnout of 60%. Findlay garnered 2,565 votes, while Fraser received 1,187 and Gallacher 403.

"We must start the hard work now to win back public trust," Findlay stated. "I want to be a voice for the decent, mainstream values of hard work and self-reliance."

As the new leader prepares for a busy schedule—including a speech at the 25th anniversary of devolution and engagements at the Conservative Party conference—he aims to reshape the party's image and approach.

Findlay’s opponents congratulated him on social media, with Fraser calling for unity and collaboration. However, criticism came from SNP MSP Kevin Stewart, who accused Findlay of lacking a genuine commitment to Scotland's interests, suggesting that the party remains divided.

Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, Dame Jackie Baillie, pointed out that simply changing leaders wouldn’t suffice to halt the party’s decline, which has seen the Conservatives struggling in recent elections.

Like many people with an interest in politics who identify as being of a leftist persuasion, I couldn’t be happier that Jeremy Corbyn is leading the polls to become the next Labour leader.  Of course polls can be misleading - as we all learnt on May 8th - but it gives a bit of hope none the less.  This once rank outsider must now be taken seriously and his detractors seem rattled.  Everyone’s least favourite uncle Tony Blair even showed up uninvited to say something about Corbyn supporters needing a heart transplant, like Tony Blair knows anything about what it’s like to have a heart.

Those who disapprove of Corbyn all seem to have the same problem, they don’t see him as electable, or more importantly, don’t think the general public will see him as electable (politicians of course being the experts in what the public want).  Whilst Blair, along with Liz Kendall and others, seem to believe in order to become electable again Labour should look more like the Tories (clamping down on benefits, cutting spending and a bit of anti-immigration rhetoric thrown in for good measure), Corbyn and his supporters have remembered one important thing: only 24% of the electorate voted for Cameron.  A third of those eligible didn't bother to vote at all.  It is the disenfranchised and the forgotten that Corbyn is seeking to inspire, not the home county Tories and countryside traditionalists. 

Before Corbyn entered the race the only candidate for the left was Andy Burnham, although what qualifies him as a leftwinger I’m not sure.  Apparently when Miliband announced the ‘mansion tax’, Burnham’s mother text him to say she found it “spiteful”.  I wonder what she thinks of her boy bravely abstaining from the benefit cap vote. 

Did Burnham’s mother consider the mansion tax an ‘attack on aspiration’ I wonder?  Ever since a Tory majority took hold in May, Labour MPs and commentators alike have been talking about “aspiration” and how Miliband and Labour didn’t understand it. 

Let’s get one thing clear.  Aspiration is a lie sold to us by the rich and powerful that promises we can become rich and powerful too if we work hard and obey the rules - knowing full well that just a tiny minority of people not born rich and powerful will ever become so - in order that when laws are passed from which only the rich and powerful benefit, we’ll not only let them but insist they must.