Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross to stand in general election

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross is to stand in the general election.

Mr Ross’s surprise announcement came after the party effectively de-selected David Duguid as the Conservative candidate in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East.

Mr Duguid, who is unwell, was the MP for Banff and Buchan since 2017.

Mr Ross was supposed to be standing down from Westminster at this election to concentrate on his job as an MSP ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election campaign.

He described the Mr Duguid as a “friend and colleague” and said it was with “regret” the party management board decided he could not proceed as the party’s candidate.