Scottish Tory leadership frontrunner Russell Findlay enthusiastically ...

The frontrunner in the Scottish Tory leadership campaign enthusiastically backed the disastrous Liz Truss to be Prime Minister.

Russell Findlay lavished praise on the “authentic” right-wing Conservative in a gushing Twitter video in August 2022.

The West of Scotland MSP also appealed to Tory members to support her: “In Liz we trust”.

The SNP said Findlay’s support for a Tory widely regarded as the UK’s worst ever PM “speaks volumes about his judgement and values”.

Scottish Labour said the backing “tells you all you need to know about the man's political judgement.”

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Truss nearly crashed the economy during her short stint as Prime Minister and was forced to resign after just seven weeks in the job.

Her brief time in office saw a catastrophic mini budget of unfunded tax cuts for the rich that sent the markets into turmoil.

Experts say the budget proposals, which were abandoned after an outcry, worsened the cost of living crisis by sending interest rates and inflation skyrocketing.

Truss became PM after defeating Rishi Sunak in a leadership contest called after Boris Johnson quit in 2022.

Findlay, who is the Scottish Tory justice spokesperson, was gung-ho in his support for Truss.

He shared a video of himself speaking outside Paisley Abbey on August 19, 2022 with the caption: “Why I’m backing #LizForLeader #RussForTruss ”.

He said: “This week the two candidates for next Conservative leader and prime minister came to Perth.

“Outside the venue we all saw the ugly face of nationalism that shames Scotland.

“Inside, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak set out their positive visions for the UK.

“Having listened to both, I’m now backing Liz for PM.”

He held up an envelope to the camera which appeared to contain his ballot paper.

He gushed: “She is optimistic and authentic. She’s determined to help families through the global cost of living crisis.

“She understands the strength of the UK and she’s got what it takes to stand up to Nicola Sturgeon and Keir Starmer.

“During our chat yesterday we spoke about the Clyde Green Freeport bid.

“Liz also told me she’s keen to visit us here in Paisley where she spent some of her childhood and I hope to welcome her.

“Our new PM is someone who cannot be ignored.

“In Liz we trust.”

Findlay, who was elected in 2021, is widely regarded as the favourite to replace Douglas Ross but has yet to declare his candidacy.

Ross announced during the general election campaign he was standing down after facing a backlash for replacing the hospitalised David Duguid as a Westminster candidate.

SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson slammed Findlay for backing Truss.

He said: “Liz Truss crashed the UK economy, sent mortgage bills soaring and will only ever be remembered for her abject failure as Prime Minister.

“For Mr Findlay to have placed his trust in her speaks volumes about his judgement and values – and they are not those of Scotland.

“No matter who is next to lead the Tories in Scotland, they will forever be the party that inflicted 14 years of austerity on our public services, dragged Scotland out of the EU against our will and mismanaged the economy so badly that Scottish households are still suffering from sky-high costs."

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said the Scottish Tories “are in a doom spiral”.

She said: "That Russell Findlay enthusiastically endorsed Liz Truss as Prime Minister tells you all you need to know about the man's political judgement.

“The simple fact is that the Scottish Tories are in a doom spiral.

“While the Tories squabble and fight for the poisoned chalice of the leadership, Scottish Labour is focused on delivering for the people of Scotland."

Findlay was a journalist before embarking on a career as a Tory MSP.

Fellow Scottish Tory Douglas Lumsden, who has put himself forward as Findlay’s running mate, also backed Truss in the Tory leadership election.

The north east MSP called Truss a “child of the union”. He also endorsed her plans to cut taxes for the wealthy.

Just a week before Truss stood down, with the economy already tanking, Lumsden branded calls for her to resign “ridiculous”.

The then PM had already apologised for “mistakes made” and binned her chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng.

Lumsden jumped to her defence: “She’s admitted she made a mistake. She didn’t just keep her head buried in the sand.

“She has admitted that and changed things. Surely that’s what people would want in their politicians?

“That if they’ve made a mistake that they put their hands up and fix it and not just keep dogmatically sticking with the plan that they have.”

Findlay declined to comment.

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