UNDER-fire Douglas Ross today announced he is quitting as Scottish Tory leader after nearly four years in the job.
The Conservative chief revealed he is to stand down after the General Election amid fury among his colleagues over claims he elbowed out a sick colleague to grab the nomination for a key seat.
He also faced pressure this weekend over his travel expenses claims.
A spokesman for the Scottish Tories confirmed Mr Ross will leave his post as leader regardless of whether he wins on July 4.
In a statement this morning, Mr Ross - an MSP, and an MP until the election - said he's quit regardless of whether his wins the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat on July 4.
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Mr Ross - Scottish Tory leader since 2021 - said: “I have served as MP, MSP and leader for over three years now and believed I could continue to do so if re-elected to Westminster, but on reflection, that is not feasible.
“I am committed to fighting and winning the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituency.
"Should I be given the honour to represent the people and communities of this new seat, they should know being their MP would receive my complete focus and attention.
“I will therefore stand down as leader following the election on July 4, once a successor is elected.
"Should I win the seat, I will also stand down as an MSP to make way for another Scottish Conservative representative in Holyrood.
"My party has a chance to beat the SNP in key seats up and down Scotland, including in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East.
"We must now come together and fully focus on doing exactly that.”
Rishi Sunak said he respected Douglas Ross's decision to quit as Scottish Conservatives leader.
The Prime Minister told broadcasters: "You can read Douglas's statement about his reasons and I respect his decision. It's been a pleasure to work with him over the time that I've been Prime Minister, he has been a steadfast champion of the union."
A string of Scottish Tory MSPs and MPs are furious at the way Mr Ross u-turned on his long-standing position that he wouldn’t stand for Westminster at the General Election.
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Mr Ross announced last week that David Duguid was unfit to stand - despite Mr Duguid disputing this - and he was to stand himself instead.
Until last month, Mr Duguid, who is recovering in hospital after an illness, was MP for the old Banff and Buchan seat which overlaps with the new Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituency.
A source close to Mr Ross denied he had quit specifically because of the fury over his treatment of Mr Duguid, but said the decision was due to “all of the fallout from that”.
The source said: “Douglas felt that the Scottish leader needs to have all of their focus on the Scottish Parliament, and by saying he was standing for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East that signalled that his priority was not to dedicating all of his energy on the Scottish Parliament.
“It became clear that colleagues were not going to accept him continuing as an MSP and MP and continuing as leader.”
Asked why Mr Ross would have to quit as leader even if he loses - and us an MSP only - the source said that by saying he wanted to return to Westminster he was sending a “signal” to colleagues that his priority was not on Holyrood and therefore the party leadership.
We told at the weekend how Mr Ross was urged to follow suit with three of his MSPs and vow to quit Holyrood if he wins a Westminster seat on July 4.
Sources said Tory MSPs who run for election to Westminster do so with the expectation they will stand down from the Scottish Parliament if successful.
MSPs Stephen Kerr, Sandesh Gulhane, and Sue Webber had all said- either publicly or privately - that they will leave the Scottish Parliament and focus full-time on being an MP.
Mr Ross will remain in post until after a Scottish Tory leadership contest which is not expected to be up and running until after the General Election.
We also told how Mr Ross has been urged to set out the details of expenses claims he made while working as a linesman.
First Minister John Swinney claimed there are “serious issues” raised by reports that the Scottish Tory leader made 28 claims at Westminster as he travelled ahead of undertaking footy work. Mr Ross denied any wrongdoing.
Responding to news of Mr Ross’s resignation, Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said “I wish Douglas Ross the best of luck in the future. It’s clear that this divided and chaotic Tory party is out of time and out of ideas.
“Voters know that this rotten Tory government has nothing to offer Scotland – it’s no wonder Douglas Ross has given up on trying to resuscitate the Scottish Tories’ flailing campaign.
Alba Party leader and former First Minister Alex Salmond said: “The first case of a rat deserting the sinking ship while simultaneously trying to clamber aboard a gravy train.
“Douglas Ross requires to resign as candidate for Aberdeenshire and Moray, where he stabbed David Duguid in the back. Ross is totally devoid of honour.”
Seamus Logan, the SNP candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, said: "Douglas Ross must resign as an MSP today. It's clear he's been forced out as Scottish Tory leader after his shameful behaviour over David Duguid and his growing expenses scandal.
Voters deserve a dedicated MSP - not one who is hedging his bets in case he loses the election.
"On July 4, voters in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East can show Douglas Ross the door for good by voting SNP to put Scotland's interests first."
