Supporters of Scottish Tory leadership frontrunner accused of smearing potential opponents

He argued that his accusers were “doing the work of the opposition” and urged them to stop pointing the finger at him, saying: “We’re all on the same side so let’s act like it.”

However, Tory MSPs told The Telegraph they believed that a smear operation was being conducted by people close to Mr Findlay, even if he was personally unaware of it.

The battle to succeed Mr Ross threatened to descend into civil war after The Telegraph reported up to eight MSPs were considering standing. Graham Simpson, the party’s transport spokesman, became the ninth to confirm he was weighing up a bid.

The Scottish Tories’ management board will shortly set out a timetable for the process, after Mr Ross announced his resignation during the general election campaign.

‘Golden opportunity’

Stephen Kerr, a Central Scotland MSP and the Tories’ former chief whip at Holyrood, said the forthcoming leadership contest was a “golden opportunity” for the party and “must not descend into smears and personal attacks”.

He said: “If any potential candidates have even inadvertently given their staff or their supporters a green light to attack their party colleagues, they should stop and think very carefully.

“The party’s members are very astute, and they will see right through such shoddy behaviour. It will only be counter-productive to their candidacy.

“We must have a good, robust debate and at the end of the process we must all be able to unite around whoever is elected party leader.”

Sources close to Mr Greene, a West Scotland MSP, said he had been “saddened” to read the story attacking him “but the timing is unsurprising”.

“Any coordinated smear campaign demonstrates the type of gutter politics that some prospective leadership candidates sanction and support but all should condemn,” he said.

“Jamie is unashamedly respected by many in politics and should he run for the leadership I would expect he would focus on his positive ambition for Scotland, whilst bringing colleagues together in unity rather than resorting to petty insults and division.”

Stories backfired

A senior Tory MSP told The Telegraph: “This is an operation designed to persuade colleagues not to stand ­– if you stand you are going to be targeted.”

However, they said the stories had backfired, with angry MSPs who were considering putting their names forward now saying “bring it on”.

Alastair Orr, vice chairman of the Stirling and Clackmannanshire Conservative and Unionist Association, said: “Members and activists are presently being force fed a narrative by a party establishment cabal that Russell Findlay is the favoured candidate to lead the Scottish Conservative Party.

“This is completely false. The smear tactics being deployed by the cabal against potential rival candidates are clearly intended to warn off any MSPs considering entering the race for the leadership.”

However, he said party members wanted “a wide range of candidates, and a full and frank discussion on the way forward”.

But Mr Findlay rejected the accusations, saying: “These needless and malicious anonymous attacks on colleagues, which started before the general election, must stop. It is doing the work of the opposition.

“In the months ahead, we must engage in respectful and positive debate about our future as a party.”

Ms Gallacher wrote an article for The Telegraph on Monday about how she believed removing barriers for women was necessary to boost the Scottish economy.

A story appeared in the following day’s Scottish Daily Mail stating that her leadership campaign had got off to a “faltering start” as she had wrongly suggested in the piece that Holyrood had control over VAT.