Are the Scottish Tories facing a civil war?

Uh oh. All is not well within the Scottish Conservative party and just days before polling day, senior figures have dubbed the election campaign ‘the most inept [and] shambolic’ in the party’s history – called for a clear-out of the party hierarchy. Good heavens.

Senior party figures have told the Times that Scottish Tory candidates have been ‘badly let down’ by ‘disastrous errors from the top’. One MSP blasting campaigning efforts said that ‘no one involved in the leadership of the campaign should ever be allowed near one again’. Another party insider echoed the sentiment, saying:

The main focus for now is getting as many candidates over the line as we can… There will be plenty of time after the election to digest and unpick where responsibility lies for whatever the outcome is this Thursday. It is absolutely essential that whatever happens next is not rushed, is forensic and accepts that more of the same simply won’t cut it. Some heads may rightly roll.

Ouch…

It is understood that a number of other parliamentarians hold similar views. The first MSP went on to suggest that beyond the outgoing leader Douglas Ross, other key figures in the party should be ousted. This, the source said, should include former Scotland secretary David Mundell, Scotland office minister John Lamont and party director James Tweedie. The rebels are certainly not planning on doing things by halves… 

The frustration follows a number of questionable decisions made by party leader Ross during the campaign – namely, choosing to contest the new seat of North Aberdeenshire and Moray East in place of David Duguid, who is recovering from an illness in hospital. After internal unhappiness at the move, the Moray politician then announced that he would be resigning the party leadership and his MSP job – if he was successful this time around. Denying this was an ‘insurance’ strategy to save at least one of his current jobs, Ross is also facing an increased effort by the SNP to target the seat after he announced he would stand. Oo er.

But despite the internal turmoil and growing concerns about Scottish conservatives turning to Reform, recent polling suggests the Scottish Tories are still on track to retain all six of their seats thanks to anti-Nat tactical voting. What will happen to the Scottish Tories after the national poll, however, is anyone’s guess. Stay tuned…