Douglas Ross Criticizes Tory Colleagues Amid Leadership Turmoil

Douglas Ross, the outgoing leader of the Scottish Tories, has publicly criticized certain party colleagues as 'calculating bastards' who sought to undermine his leadership, leaving him feeling 'a bit paranoid'. Speaking at an event at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he acknowledged ongoing conflicts within the party and claimed that some MSPs never wanted him in charge from the start. Ross faced significant backlash after reports surfaced that he attempted to replace party colleague Kathleen Robertson as the candidate for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey, which he has denied. The leadership race to succeed him has been marred by accusations of favoritism and underhanded tactics, prompting four of the six candidates to express concerns about the process, while deputy leader Meghan Gallacher resigned. Despite the challenges, Ross asserted that he would have been ousted regardless of his participation in the upcoming General Election. His tenure has been characterized by a fractious atmosphere within the party, leading to a civil war among the Scottish Conservatives.