Scottish Conservative leadership contender, Russell Findlay, endorsed Liz Truss for the Prime Minister position, even though her tenure was marked by financial turmoil. This backing has drawn criticism regarding his political judgement.
Findlay, a member of the Scottish Parliament for the West of Scotland, openly supported Truss during a social media video shared in August 2022, where he encouraged Tory members with the tagline: “In Liz we trust”.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) condemned Findlay’s support for Truss, who is considered one of the UK’s most problematic Prime Ministers. They claim that his endorsement reflects poorly on his judgement and values.
Scottish Labour echoed this sentiment, stating Findlay’s endorsement is indicative of his questionable political judgement.
During her short-lived term as PM, Truss, dramatically fractured the economy and subsequently resigned after only seven weeks. Her time in office was characterised by a calamitous mini-budget that proposed unfunded tax reductions for the affluent, causing a market upheaval.
Financial experts assert that these budget proposals, which were withdrawn due to widespread backlash, exacerbated the cost of living crisis by causing interest rates and inflation to spike.
Truss assumed the PM role after outpacing Rishi Sunak in a leadership election triggered by Boris Johnson’s resignation in 2022. Meanwhile, Findlay, Scottish Tory justice spokesperson, was vigorous in his advocacy for Truss.
In the said video, he praised Truss’s optimism, authenticity, and determination to aid families through the global cost of living crisis. He also commended Truss for her understanding of the UK’s strength, believing she has what it takes to challenge Nicola Sturgeon and Keir Starmer.
Findlay is regarded as a likely frontrunner to succeed Douglas Ross, who stepped down after replacing a hospitalised David Duguid as a Westminster candidate. However, Findlay has not formally announced his directorship.
In ‘Glasgow News’, SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson lambasted Findlay for endorsing Truss. Gibson accused Truss of crashing the UK economy and inflicting sky-high costs on Scottish households. He also criticised Findlay’s trust in Truss, attributing his judgement and values as not aligning with Scotland’s.
Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, characterised the Scottish Tories as “in a doom spiral”. According to her, while the Tories squabble over leadership, Scottish Labour is dedicated to serving Scotland’s populace.
Before embarking on his political career, Findlay was a journalist. Another Scottish Conservative MSP, Douglas Lumsden, also supported Truss as a leadership contender. Just a week before Truss’s resignation, Lumsden declared any calls for her resignation as “ridiculous”.
This support for Truss continues to generate controversy, attracting ‘Glasgow News’ readers. Nonetheless, Findlay has chosen not to comment on the matter further.