Findlay: Not my fault colleagues have defected

SCOTTISH Conservative leader Russell Findlay has denied claims his leadership is to blame for three MSP defections.

- By David Walker

And he vowed to defy the polls and ensure there is strong Tory representation at Holyrood next year after the election.

Polling has not been kind to the Tories, predicting a fourth place finish for the party in May thanks to the rise of Reform and a Scottish Labour recovery.

Mr Findlay has also lost three MSPs, with Graham Simpson joining Reform, Jamie Greene signing up’ with the Scottish Lib Dems and Jeremy Balfour sitting as an independent.

About a dozen Scottish Tory councillors have also defected to Reform, including Glasgow’s Thomas Kerr.