Douglas Ross to resign as leader of Scottish Conservatives

The final list of candidates for the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituency was published on Friday.

Ian Bailey is standing for the Liberal Democrats, Andy Brown for Labour, Jo Hart for Reform UK, Seamus Logan for the SNP and Douglas Ross for the Conservatives.

Following Mr Ross's announcement, SNP leader John Swinney accused him of taking voters for granted and treating them with "contempt".

He said: "He wants to have it on his terms.

"Well, when you're in politics, you're in it on the terms of the electorate. We all accept that. It's the electorate that decides."

Alba leader Alex Salmond said it was the "first case of a rat deserting a sinking ship while simultaneously trying to clamber aboard a gravy train".

He called on him to resign as a candidate for the Westminster seat, adding that Mr Ross was "totally devoid of honour".

Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie wished Mr Ross luck in the future, reserving her criticism for the Conservative party and UK government.

She said: "Voters know that this rotten Tory government has nothing to offer Scotland – it’s no wonder Douglas Ross has given up on trying to resuscitate the Scottish Tories’ flailing campaign."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said the move was proof the party was in "abject disarray".

“Just like the SNP, the Tories have been in power for too long, breaking rules and taking you for granted," he said.

And Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, told BBC News it has "never been clear" what Mr Ross' focus was between working as an MSP, an MP and a football linesman.

She said: “I think its clear that the Tory party, UK-wide including in Scotland is toast. They’re on their way out so whoever takes on that role for the Scottish Tories, it’s going to be a pretty thankless task.”