Ex-Tory MP ousted by Douglas Ross reveals fury over treatment and false claims

A former Tory MP ousted by their Scottish leader Douglas Ross has told of his quiet fury after it emerged he’d also tried to take someone else’s place.

In his first interview since being removed as a candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East in June, David Duguid said he “feels nothing” towards his ex-colleague.

The dad-of-two also said it has now become clear the party’s reasons for deselecting him were “bogus” and it was all part of Ross’s plot to return to Westminster.

It comes after reports earlier this week that Ross had tried to convince Moray council leader Kathleen Robertson to abandon her Westminster bid last July so he could run instead.

Ross’s deputy Meghan Gallagher quit on Friday saying she could no longer work with him.

Duguid, 53, said: “I’m sad that I had that choice taken away from me for what appears increasingly to be bogus reasons.

“I don’t feel anything to be honest [towards him]. Douglas saw an opportunity to replace me and now it appears he was looking to replace another candidate as long ago as last July.

“The only thing I feel is disappointment.”

Duguid spoke to the Sunday Mail as he recovered in hospital from a severe spinal injury.

He questioned the narrative peddled by Ross that he was seriously ill.

He said: “I kept reading that I was ‘seriously ill’. That’s not the case and never was.

“I had a spinal injury, I am having to go through rehabilitation but the way it was being made out, perhaps by the party or by Douglas was that I couldn’t speak for myself or even hold a pen. I question why this was the impression being given.”

When he revealed he was running for Westminster Ross was asked if he had spoken to Duguid and said he had “reached out” and that “he will maybe speak when he is able to and he feels able to speak”.

Ross claimed: “Given he is in hospital it is not straightforward.”

Duguid said Ross’s version of events was inaccurate and said: “On the morning Douglas announced he was standing he sent me a message asking to ‘have a chat’.

“By the time I got round to responding it was all over the news that he had announced his candidacy.

“He sent another message asking to visit but by then I’d asked the party for a written statement about why they weren’t putting me forward.

“I told him it wouldn’t be appropriate to meet. He was making out as if I wasn’t able to have visitors or wasn’t able to speak. I question that narrative.”

Duguid said that Ross’s attempt to take his seat not only cost the party Aberdeenshire North and Moray East but potentially others.

He said: “Putting the party leader in a seat previously not targeted by the SNP suddenly became their hottest target. We had to put a lot of resources there which could have been deployed elsewhere.”

Duguid said Ross’s successor had to reconnect with members and said: “I don’t think any of the candidates would do a bad job.

“The main thing is that it isn’t a coronation because the members will get a say.

“In the 7 years as an MP I’ve seen a greater gap forming between the centre of the party and members. They need to be brought back into the fold.”

Asked if he would rule out a return to either Holyrood or Westminster, Duguid said: “I wouldn’t rule it out, no. It’s not part of the plan right now but I wouldn’t say I’m done with it forever.”

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