Can Findlay Put the Scottish Tories Back in Play?

With many commentators writing off the Scottish Conservatives, some observers might assume the party is on its last legs. But inside the party’s Scottish conference, at Murrayfield stadium this weekend, a different story emerged; one of quiet determination, resilience, and a refusal to throw in the towel.  

The party’s leader here, Russell Findlay, deployed a series of rugby metaphors during his speech on Saturday which captured this spirit: battered, yes, but far from beaten. 

Murrayfield’s smaller, more intimate setting – a noticeable shift from larger venues like the SEC in Glasgow or Aberdeen’s P&J Live – lent the gathering a rare buzz before kick-off and, despite the recent setback of councillor Lauren Knight’s defection to Reform UK, the mood remained cautiously optimistic throughout. While not every delegate left with a fully formed game plan for 2026, both Findlay and his UK counterpart, Kemi Badenoch, articulated a broader truth: rebuilding trust requires more than words.  

Crucially, neither leader shied away from the party’s past mistakes in government. Honesty alone won’t erase voter scepticism, but this openness may mark a necessary first step towards regaining some confidence. The task ahead is daunting: Russell won’t be returning 31 MSPs to Holyrood in 2026. The question now is whether this new openness can evolve into meaningful change that convinces voters to give the party another chance. 

Badenoch was candid in her critique of the SNP government at Holyrood, targeting failures in education, healthcare, and policing. She positioned the Scottish Conservatives as the only principled opposition, standing firm against nationalist excess and Labour’s wavering stance on the union. Her call to scrap the energy profits levy underscored the party’s economic vision: protecting jobs, securing energy, and focusing on practical policies that matter to Scots. 

Findlay’s blueprint was equally grounded: cutting waste, lowering taxes, defending North Sea jobs, and reviving public services eroded by SNP mismanagement. Notably, the party plans a new energy strategy that abandons the Scottish Government’s 2045 net zero target in favour of an affordable transition centred on reducing energy bills. 

The Scottish Conservatives also plan to tackle government inefficiency by reducing the number of quangos and merging overlapping public bodies, aiming to save public money and streamline operations. Findlay wants to establish a new agency, led by business experts, charged with identifying significant savings for the government. Once these targets are met, the agency would be disbanded but continue advising ministers informally. 

The Tories also intend to shrink the civil service to 2016 levels, by dint of hiring freezes and redeploying staff to frontline services such as schools, the NHS, and the police. 

They’re targeting what they see as bloated bureaucracy – middle managers and highly paid chief executives who, they argue, add little value for patients, victims, parents, or households. Roles focused solely on equality, diversity, and inclusion would also be scrapped, with the party insisting that public money should go to delivering services, not funding what they view as politically driven positions. The idea is to redirect those savings into tangible frontline improvements – fixing roads, emptying bins, and supporting everyday public services that voters notice. 

Findlay will hope these appeals to common-sense, practical leadership resonate with voters weary of political grandstanding and unmet promises. 

Outside the conference room, the narrative remains one of decline and inevitable defeat. Polling consistently shows the Scottish Conservatives struggling to gain traction, with many Scots no longer paying much attention to their messaging. Despite recent policy announcements on education and public services, the party barely cuts through the noise in public debate. 

Inside, however, there was a palpable sense of defiance and drive to carve out a new future. The challenges ahead are clear: the party must avoid Westminster-style turmoil and resist the lure of Reform UK’s populism.  

Findlay knows he can’t simply re-run plays from Ruth Davidson’s managerial manual or hope for quick fixes by mimicking Reform’s style. He needs to build a vision that feels authentically Scottish Conservative - a party ready not just to oppose the SNP, but to lead Scotland forward. 

In conversation with Findlay on Friday, Davidson tried to highlight a side of the leader that sets him apart from politicians like Anas Sarwar and John Swinney who represent Scotland’s political establishment.  

By sharing his personal story – having spent nearly 30 years as an investigative journalist and even being attacked by a gangster on his own doorstep for his troubles – Russell demonstrated a level of real-life experience and authenticity that is a rare asset for the party.  

If he embraces this strength with renewed confidence and a clearer sense of purpose, it could become a powerful tool to reconnect the Scottish Conservatives with ordinary Scots looking for a fresh alternative. As his first conference speech as leader, it signalled fresh ideas and a willingness to move beyond past patterns, both essential if the party is to rebuild trust and find its place in Scotland’s changing political landscape. 

Aoife Hollywood, client manager, Charlotte Street Partners