A former regional editor has questioned whether a journalist who has become Scottish Tory leader can change the party’s fortunes.

Neil Mackay has written about Russell Findlay, who used to be a crime reporter at Glasgow’s Sunday Mail.

Russell, pictured, was elected leader of the Scottish Conservatives last month, three years after he became a Member of the Scottish Parliament.

Neil, who edited Glasgow’s Sunday Herald from 2015 to 2018, wrote of his “great respect” for his fellow former crime reporter while saying he had made some “daft” comments since assuming his current role.

Neil wrote: “Unlike his absurd predecessor, Douglas Ross, I have great respect for the new Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay. He was an exemplary journalist.

!There’s an affinity between the work he did investigating organised crime and the work I’ve done investigating terrorism. We both suffered violence for simply doing our jobs and daring to report the truth.

“Findlay was the victim of an acid attack. I was kidnapped and put through a mock execution. So when it comes to his past endeavours, I brim with praise.

“I cannot say the same for his current incarnation as the frontman of Scottish Conservatism. Indeed, Findlay has made some inordinately daft comments since assuming his new role.”

Neil went on to focus on Russell’s claim that the Scottish “independence dream is dead”, made at the Tory Conference.

He added: “Russell, by all means swing your rhetorical axe at independence, but do expect some verbal blows in return, as your claims don’t stack up.

“It might be a better plan to begin your new role acknowledging the terrible failures which led to the Tories getting such a kicking.

“Nobody else in the party has the wit to do so. Maybe a once-cracking journalist can change that?”