Scots Tories set for 'really difficult time' next election

THE Scottish Tories face a perfect storm at next May’s Holyrood election, as a politics expert cast doubt on the chances of the leadership propelling the party forward.

- By Douglas Dickie

Dr Alan Convery, senior lecturer in politics at the University of Edinburgh, told the Scottish Express the party relied heavily on the threat of an independence referendum to drive its recent success.

But, with that “off the agenda” and the threat of Reform also eating into the core'Tory vote, Scottish leader Russell Findlay faces a difficult election campaign.

Dr Convery was speaking after Lothian MSP Jeremy Balfour quit the Tory group to sit as an independent at Holyrood.

He left with a stinging attack on the party leadership, saying it had become “reactionary” and no longer had a “positive platform to offer the people of Scotland”.

Dr Convery said it remained to be seen how “switched on” voters were to Mr Balfour’s exit, but believes it was “not helpful” to the Tories and further defections would create a “narrative of a party losing control”. He added: “It’s really tough for the party. For the first time, they have a radical right challenger while they’re also having to deal with the fact an independence referendum is off the agenda.

“They benefited hugely from that direct competition with the SNP. They’re also dealing with the UK party’s defeat at the general election at UK level.”

Polling suggests the Tories will fall from second at Holyrood, where they have 29 MSPs, to fourth, behind SNP, Labour and Reform.