Russell Findlay will ‘work constructively’ with new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch

Russell Findlay has pledged to “work constructively” with new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.

The Scottish Tory leader had refused to endorse either candidate during the leadership campaign, saying he would work with whoever took over.

He told the BBC that he and Badenoch would work to remove the “high-tax” SNP and Labour governments “as soon as possible”.

Both oppose Scottish independence and changes to transgender rights.

Speaking to BBC Scotland News, Findlay said: “We will work collectively, we will work constructively and we will work together to persuade the people of the United Kingdom that we understand their concerns.

“We will work day and night to ensure that we remove both these failing governments as soon as possible.”

Badenoch has caused divisions within her own party and is often labelled a “culture warrior” – though she disputes the tag.

She is popular among the Conservative right because of her “anti-woke” values and no-nonsense style.

Meanwhile Findlay took over as Scottish leader in September, replacing Douglas Ross who resigned following an election row.

In his first major speech since becoming leader, Findlay said his party would make the case for tax cuts and a smaller state, that would be a “markedly different approach” to the “left-wing consensus” in the Scottish Parliament.

He stood by policies such as opposing the early release of prisoners, wanting money to be spent on schools in Scotland rather than Africa, and not giving free bus travel to asylum seekers when pensioners were having cuts to their winter fuel payments.

These policies have fuelled accusations of a move to the right, but Findlay said they were not “right-wing” – rather something most families in Scotland see as “right”.

Asked whether Badenoch’s policies were “right wing enough”, Findlay said it would be “churlish” to get into a debate about where someone is on the political spectrum.

He said: “The good thing about our party is we respect different views, and we understand that the views that we share – the common-sense conservative values – they are the views that fundamentally matter.”

During her leadership campaign, Badenoch used an article in the Sunday Telegraph, to argue the country expected immigrants to share the UK’s values.

Findlay added that it was “entirely right” for Badenoch to look at the issue of immigration, saying he wanted to see an end to “organised international crime gangs that are trading in misery and death”.

He said children were drowning in the Channel as the “scandal” had not been brought under control.

Badenoch takes over as leader from Rishi Sunak, beating rival Robert Jenrick – though hinted in her victory speech at a possible “key role” for him.

She described being appointed leader as an “enormous honour” and pledged to hold the Labour government to account.

The arrival of Badenoch as Conservative leader comes shortly after Labour’s first budget – in which Scotland will receive an additional £3.4bn.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said it would be the largest real-terms funding settlement since devolution.

Labour have consistently said their budget choices were based around a “£22bn black hole” in the public finances as a result of the previous Conservative government.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who congratulated Badenoch as the first black female leader of the Tories, said: “With Badenoch already talking about cutting the maternity pay that is vital to young working families, it seems unlikely that the Tories have learned their lesson.

“The 2024 election result made it clear that voters want change not a return to a rotten Tory government.”

Meanwhile Keith Brown, the SNP depute leader, said Badenoch’s election had “finalised the Tories’ lurch to the far-right”.

He said: “The Tory party is now firmly dancing to the dangerous tune of Nigel Farage – it is essential that in Scotland Russell Findlay doesn’t dance along and instead stands up for Scotland’s inclusive and progressive values.”

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie called Badenoch “unashamedly divisive” and “determined to emulate” the Reform party, saying LGBTQ+ people in particular would be “deeply worried” about her leadership.

He said: “She’s been elected by appealing to the worst instincts of the Conservative party. We know that the politics she represents is no basis for building a fairer society – we have just endured 14 years of them.”