Tories only party standing up for change at Holyrood election, says Findlay

The Tories are now the only party standing for change at Holyrood, Russell Findlay is set to say, after Labour announced it would not vote against the SNP’s budget.

The Scottish Conservative leader will attack Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, whom he said had “no direction”, during his New Year’s speech on Tuesday.

Sarwar announced last week that his party would abstain on the budget vote, making it extremely likely it will pass.

Findlay will claim the Scottish Labour leader was “spineless” and would not stand up to First Minister John Swinney in a speech that looks to the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

He will also point to a story in the Daily Record newspaper that reported that Scottish Labour had abandoned its “change” slogan.

The newspaper quoted party insiders as saying the word was associated with Sir Keir Starmer.

Since entering Number 10, the Prime Minister has faced criticism from opposition parties over decisions around the Winter Fuel Payment, national insurance and Waspi (Women Against State Pension Inequality) women.

Polls have shown Labour’s position slipping in Scotland and across the UK since the summer election.

During his speech, Findlay will argue that only his party has politics that significantly differ from the SNP on the economy, education and housing.

He has previously criticised what he describes as a “cosy, left-wing consensus” at Holyrood.

He will say: “The Scottish Conservatives are the only party standing for change now that Labour has decided to let the SNP budget pass.

“Labour has admitted they no longer stand for change and it’s clear why – Sir Keir Starmer has broken countless promises within a year of gaining office.

“Anas Sarwar won’t stand up to Sir Keir Starmer and he looks even more spineless when it comes to John Swinney.

“Labour votes will mean the SNP budget passes, so no wonder they have dropped the ‘change’ slogan. ”

The Scottish Tory leader is expected to say that Labour “only offers more of the same left-wing agenda” as the SNP.

He will say that “in every major vote that matters”, from gender reforms to the Hate Crime Act and the latest budget, Labour had supported the SNP.

“Anas Sarwar’s new slogan is ‘new direction’,” he said, “but it should really be no direction. By abstaining to let the SNP budget pass, he’s not standing for anything.

“He now seems to be trying to make inroads against the SNP by becoming the SNP.”

Findlay, who took over the party leadership from Douglas Ross in September, will also use the speech to set out his plans for public services and the economy.

He will say: “The Scottish Conservatives are now the only party standing for the change that Scotland needs to fix public services and improve the economy.

“After 18 disastrous years where the SNP raised taxes and reduced the quality of public services, there needs to be a fundamental shift in the way Holyrood operates.

“The 2026 election is all to play for. In that election, we’ll proudly stand for common sense values of opportunity, aspiration and fairness.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said “It takes some brass neck for Russell Findlay to pretend the Tories are the answer to Scotland’s challenges after the political chaos and economic misery his party has inflicted on Scotland.

“The Tories have been a disaster for Scotland and a gift to the SNP for the last 14 years.

“The UK Labour Government is already working to clean up the mess the Tories left behind, and we are ready to put an end to SNP failure here in Scotland too.

“The next Scottish election will be a straight choice between more of the same decline, or a new direction with Scottish Labour.”