Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross could have avoided resigning if he had not decided to take up a role from which his colleague had been deselected, his predecessor told Sky News.
Ruth Davidson, who was leader until 2021, told Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast Mr. Ross will “probably always have to step away” after stepped forward to take David Duguid’s place was planning to defend himself again.
She said that “part of the job is rolling with the punches” and that she would not have announced that she was stepping down in the middle of an election campaign.
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Ross’s decision to stand as an MP was made hours before the final nominations were declared last Friday, and the morning after Duguid said the night before he was looking forward to campaigning for the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seats.
Former Conservative minister Mr Duguid was deselected due to his health, the Scottish Conservative party said, after suffering a serious illness involving back surgery and remaining in hospital.
However, he said he still hopes to stay on his feet as his recovery is going well.
On Monday, Ross announced he will step down as leader of the Scottish Conservatives following the July 4 election – as he also faced accusations of using Westminster expenses to travel in his role as a football touch judge.
He also announced he would resign as MSP if re-elected to Westminster.
Avoidable mess
But Davidson said: “With the best will in the world, he would not have run for office and all of this would have been avoided.”
“I think, thinking about it, he was having a very good election until he presented himself as a candidate. [for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East].
“And even if the decision of the party’s board of directors that David [Duguid] he was not well enough to apply, although he said he was, it would have been fine if another candidate had come forward.
“It was he [Ross] putting yourself forward. And because of the timing, it felt so bad, and so he wasn’t able to explain himself very well.
“After that happens, I think after the election, he will probably always have to resign.”
She added that part of the job is “taking those hits.”
David Duguid was told he could not defend the Scottish Conservatives for health reasons
Ms Davidson said: “I’m not sure about the decision to announce that you’re going to do this three and a half weeks from polling day, because I think part of the job is to take the punches to these different types of elections.
“I’ve fought them all, I’ve fought the ones where they’re really fun and you’re trying to get other people’s votes and your party is growing.
“And I also fought the ones where you were on the back foot and got punched every day.
“And part of the job is rolling with the punches. And that’s what leadership is.”
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Announcing his upcoming resignation on Monday, Ross said: “I have served as an MP, MSP and leader for over three years and believed I could continue to do so if re-elected to Westminster, but on reflection this is not viable .
“I am committed to fighting and winning the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituencies.
“If I had the honor of representing the people and communities of this new seat, they should know that being their deputy would receive my full focus and attention.
“Therefore, I will step down as leader after the July 4 elections, as soon as a successor is elected.
“If I win the seat, I will also step down as MSP to make way for another Scottish Conservative representative at Holyrood.”
Email Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman at electoraldysfunction@sky.uk, post on X to @BethRigby or send a WhatsApp voice note to 07934 200 444.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
