Independence is dead, its time to focus on the future, says new Scots Tory leader Russell Findlay

The SNP’s independence ‘dream is dead’ and Scottish politics must move on, Russell Findlay has said.

Declaring victory for the Union in his first conference speech as Scottish Tory leader, he said it was time to leave years of bitter arguments over the constitution behind.

Voters want politicians to knuckle down and improve crumbling public services, not waste time on slogans and ‘radical ideology’, he said and added: ‘We will leave the SNP to look backwards and instead turn our eyes to where they should always be focused - on our country’s future, not its past.’

Mr Findlay was cheered loud and often during a confident speech as he urged activists to rebuild trust with voters through the power of ‘common sense’.

Newly-elected Scots Tory leader Russell Findlay spoke at the Conservative conference in Birmingham

Rather than dreading the 2026 Holyrood election, he said it was an ‘opportunity’ to show how Tory values of optimism and aspiration connected with people’s daily lives.

He also denounced Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as ‘an absolute chancer’ and demanded John Swinney ‘grow a backbone’ and overhaul education in the face of union resistance.

And he promised to ‘move heaven and earth’ to stop an ‘arrogant’ Scottish Labour walking into power at Holyrood.

Speaking at the Scottish fringe on the opening day of the UK Conservative conference in Birmingham, Mr Findlay stressed the Scottish Tories were ‘unionists to our core’.

But as the party embarked on a ‘new chapter’ it could ‘do things differently’, appealing to people on a broader range of issues that chimed with the ‘instincts of everyday Scots’.

He said: ‘For a decade, our politics has been dominated by the bitter divisive arguments about breaking up the United Kingdom.

‘The SNP are still at it. They’re down, but they are far from out.

‘John Swinney has said he’s never been more convinced of the case for independence.

‘Nicola Sturgeon says she’s absolutely certain that Scotland will be independent in her lifetime.

‘Humza Yousaf has called for - get this - “international mediation” to secure independence. For goodness’ sakes this is Scotland, not Sudan.

‘Alex Salmond has said famously and continues to say that the dream shall never die.

‘Well let me tell you Salmond, Sturgeon, Swinney and Yousaf: the dream is dead.’

He added: ‘I don’t want to spend my time as a politician only talking about the Union.

‘The Scottish Conservative Party rightly stood up against the SNP year after year and to great effect and to our benefit electorally.

‘But now we need to put that to one side and talk about the issues that matter to people.

‘Talk about education, talk about housing, talk about the economy, and show people that after 25 years of this failed socialist consensus at Holyrood, that a Conservative future is in the best interests of Scotland.’

Mr Findlay, a former crime reporter who was elected a West Scotland MSP in 2021, said the Scottish Tories must offer ‘bold proposals’ to change lives.

He continued: ‘We must celebrate success - not sneer at it. That means junking the high-tax, high-spend agenda favoured by the Holyrood consensus.

‘Cutting personal tax rates so business can recruit and retain talented people.’

The party leader said the SNP and Scottish Labour had become ‘co-conspirators in socialist conformity’, leaving the Scottish Tories as the ‘sole voice’ of mainstream Scotland and he went on: ‘We have such an exciting opportunity in the months and years ahead. Scotland has seen through the SNP’s pathetic posturing, feeble excuses and catastrophic failures.

‘And the new UK Labour government is already on the slide as voters’ remorse bites hard.

‘So our opportunity is to put forward a positive vision for change in Scotland.

‘Going into 2026 we need to be in every single community. We need to not cede ground to any party.

‘I find it sickening, frankly, the thought that Labour under Anas Sarwar [has] this arrogant assumption that they’ll walk back into power.

‘I will move heaven and earth over the next year and half to prevent that from happening.’

Refusing to back a candidate for UK Tory leader, Mr Findlay said he would work on achieving progress, prosperity and security UK-wide with whoever won.

But he also said the Scottish Tories would stand up for themselves, adding: ‘Where we and Scottish Conservatives disagree with the policies or actions of the UK party, we will say. This will be mutual and it will always be respectful.’

The Scottish Tories held five of their six seats at the general election but their vote share halved to 12.7 per cent, with Reform UK outpolling them in around half the country.

Mr Findlay said: ‘We have to accept the enormity of the challenge ahead of us.

‘Our party let down those who voted for us. We lost our way and our sense of purpose.

‘Nigel Farage I believe to be an absolute chancer and an imposter. He’s not the answer to people’s problems.

‘He’s not interested in fixing people’s problems - I am.’

An SNP spokesman said: ‘Russell Findlay and the Tories have no ambition for Scotland.’

And Alba Party general secretary Chris McEleny said Mr Findlay was ‘living in dreamland’.