Blue-on-blue dirty tricks not helpful, says Tory leadership contender

The former deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives claimed she has been the victim of a smear campaign as the first public debate between the candidates vying to take charge of the party descended into infighting.
Meghan Gallacher, who was number two to Douglas Ross until recent weeks, said she was targeted during Monday’s TV debate which descended into rancour.
The contest has become increasingly bitter with claims and counterclaims made by candidates. These intensified in recent days after Gallacher said party members were being falsely told she would drop out.
Asked if she had been the victim of a “dirty tricks” campaign, she said: “Well, I think there has been blue on blue and that’s not helpful for anyone’s campaign or unifying the party.”
The other two candidates, Murdo Fraser, the party’s economy spokesman, and Russell Findlay, the justice spokesman, also exchanged barbs in the STV debate.
During a cross-examination section, Fraser accused Findlay, who has the backing of all five Scottish Tory MPs and a swathe of senior figures, of being “the establishment candidate who is going to stop the change that our members want to see”.
Later Findlay hit back: “Murdo Fraser, who’s been a politician for almost a quarter of a century, I think it’s a bit of a strange take to give me that label [of continuity candidate]. In terms of the blue on blue stuff, [what] I have maintained throughout is an absolute focus on a positive campaign.”
The candidates have been taking part in a series of internal hustings but the STV programme was the first fully public debate. Ballot papers will be sent out on Wednesday and the winner will be announced on September 27, just days before the UK Conservative conference.
Tory MSPs will on Tuesday hold their first group meeting since the general election. Ross, the outgoing leader, is expected to come in for heavy criticism from his colleagues, some of whom he branded “calculating bastards”, after he changed his mind on a decision not to seek election for Westminster. He announced he would stand after David Duguid, the sitting MP, said he was “deselected” the night before the announcement because of ill health.
Ross confirmed he would step down as leader in the wake of the row over his decision to try to stand for Westminster before losing the seat to the SNP on July 4. Duguid has publicly criticised the decision and claimed he would have won the seat had he not been forced out.
Separately it has been reported that in July 2023 Ross asked Kathleen Robertson if he could replace her as the Moray West, Nairn & Strathspey candidate and that he wanted Findlay to replace him as leader.
Gallacher said she was “shocked” when Duguid was ousted while Fraser said Ross had made serious errors not just by standing for the seat but then by quitting as leader. Findlay said the focus should be on Duguid’s welfare.
Fraser revealed he had once smoked cannabis while at university but “it did nothing much for me and I didn’t do it again”. Both Findlay and Gallacher refused to answer whether they had ever taken illegal drugs.
It followed Findlay saying he and friends “went to Ibiza on holiday in the 1990s” when asked if he had ever taken class A drugs at his campaign launch.
The strong hint that he had taken illegal substances came after he reiterated his view that he was against decriminalisation and instead said criminal gangs must be “robustly tackled”.
All three candidates said they were in favour of retaining free tuition for Scottish students. University principals have called for a “grown-up debate” about how institutions raise money. Scottish Labour last week ruled out introducing any fees for university study despite having previously suggested that it could be on the table to ease the financial strain.
Fraser again said that he would not pursue his former policy of splitting from the UK party despite having a commission to examine the relationship between Edinburgh and London.
He and Gallacher both said the Tories could not provide the first minister after the 2026 Holyrood election but that the party could be influential in a hung parliament.
Findlay said: “Humza Yousaf was the first minister, for goodness sake, so I think all of us have got a chance.”