“Life’s not fair and politics is even more unfair” Russell Findlay appeals to voters to give Scottish Conservatives a “fair eye” in election
The Scottish Tory leader also reveals Eminem gets him “in the zone”.
Russell Findlay is voicing frustrations at claims he is leading a “one-trick” party as he bids to stop an SNP majority at the election.
Many polls predict the Tories will lose their grip on being the second biggest party at Holyrood, with some suggesting they could finish as low as fifth.
“We have been written off so many times in the past, and we’ve come back with a vengeance. I think it would be a bit reckless and naïve to start putting a number of things, the polling has been all over the place.”
WATCH: You ask the questions
The Scottish Conservative leader has been answering your questions as part of our leadership interview series.
On employing the same strategy use in 2016 and 2021 on stopping an SNP majority, Russell Findlay’s rejecting claims it shows they have nothing more to offer:
“We have got an abundance of policies, and it frustrates me when I hear people saying the Scottish Conservatives only stand for one thing. But we would be complacent and naïve to think the independence threat is off the table.”
On immigration
Immigration has become a top 3 issue in the Holyrood election, despite it being reserved to Westminster.
Sagel from Edinburgh wanted to know how our political leaders will combat “the rise in anti-migrant hatred”.
The Scottish Conservative leader has defended his party’s approach to the issue.
“When people want to come here to contribute to society and to pay in, and be part of our nation, that’s a good thing for us collectively and economically but what we have seen in recent years is huge numbers of people coming into the country through illegal routes and exploiting the system.
“People are sick and fed of being called racist for simply saying enough is enough.”
What help for hospitality?
Richie from Dumfries want to know what parties will do to support pubs and restaurants, one of the main issues for Russell Findlay during this campaign:
“The people who run these businesses have put their hearts and souls into these businesses, have worked their fingers to the bone and in many cases are just turnout the lights, locking the door and giving up.
“We would put a pause on the rates system right now, stop these bills landing and stick to the previous years numbers.”
Fancy a pint?
First Minister John Swinney previously told Holyrood he couldn’t think of anything “less appealing” than going for a pint with Russell Findlay.
But the offer from the Scottish Conservative leader still stands.
“I’d happily take John Swinney for a pint, but I don’t want to start looking too desperate like I’m begging him.”
We have also been asking our political leaders about their listening habits and challenging them to put their own festival together.
“I’m a 90s kid, so you’d have to have the Happy Mondays and Stone Roses. I’ve been listening to a lot of Eminem recently, it gets me in the zone.”
The Scottish Conservative leader also revealed the last band he went to see were probably not fans of his:
“The Mickey 9s, and they’ll hate the fact I’ve just shouted them out because, apparently, between songs they often chant ‘F the Tories’!”
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