Douglas Ross: No10 had 'no involvement' in leadership move

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has insisted No10 had "no involvement" with his decision to run as party leader north of border.

Douglas Ross replaced Jackson Carlaw last month

The Moray MP replaced Jackson as party leader last month said there was "no connection" between his decision to quit as a Scotland Office minister earlier in the year and taking over as party leader.

Nationalists have suggested his departure from office, in protest at the Prime Minister's advisor Dominic Cummings perceived breach of Covid restrictions, was staged to enhance Mr Ross' credentials as his “own man.”

Mr Ross spoke out on BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking with Nick Robinson when asked whether Number 10 was happy for him to stand as leader in Scotland after his resignation.

Mr Ross said: "They had no involvement. From my point of view, I had no discussion with them and some people have suggested that somehow the two were connected – that I resigned as a minister and then became leader of the Scottish Party.

"Actually there were several months between the two. From my point of view, they were completely separate. As I said at the time, I thought long and hard about resigning from government because at that time I knew what it meant for my future career and I’m still relatively young in politics.

"I knew the decision to resign was correct and I still do, but several months later a new opportunity arose.

Mr Ross also revealed that he has not spoken to Mr Cummings since his resignation.

He added: "I haven’t spoken to him before I resigned and I haven’t talked to him since I resigned. I’ve never met the man."

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