The frontrunner to become the next leader of the Scottish Tories has vowed to “repair some of the damage” caused by infighting - but insisted there are “legitimate questions” over Douglas Ross’s conduct. Russell Findlay formally launched his campaign to replace Mr Ross, but raised eyebrows after refusing to deny he has taken class A drugs after setting out his hard-line criminal justice position on illegal substance misuse. Mr Findlay, the Conservative justice spokesperson at Holyrood, was asked about the campaign being plunged into chaos on Friday after four of his rivals called for the proceedings to be halted and another candidate, Meghan Gallacher, quit as Mr Ross’s deputy.
Read more: How Russell Findlay will distance himself from Douglas Ross plot with 'decency' push The storm erupted after it emerged that Mr Ross reportedly offered to quit last year and install Mr Findlay as his replacement. But speaking to journalists at the event at Glasgow’s Science Centre, Mr Findlay insisted he has "full faith" in the process, but warned the episode had shown the Tories in “a poor light”. He said: “I am confident that our party will have a robust and fair contest for leadership and whoever prevails will unite us.
“We don't want to see infighting. The public aren't remotely interested in fighting. If anything is going to turn people off at such a critical time.
We need to be coming together and rebuilding. “So if I do get the job, the first thing I will do is.