Tory candidate replaced by Douglas Ross says he is 'fit to stand'

A former Conservative MP who has been replaced as a general election candidate by the party's Scottish leader has dismissed suggestions that he is too unwell to stand.

David Duguid, who is in hospital after becoming ill in April, wrote in a social media post that reports he is unable to stand due to his health are "simply incorrect".

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross announced on Thursday that he is to stand for the party in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East.

The surprise move means that the party has effectively decided to de-select Mr Duguid, who had been adopted by local Conservative members.

BBC Scotland News has been told that there is a “swell of opinion” within the Scottish Conservatives that Mr Ross may have to step down as leader regardless of whether or not he wins the seat.

One senior Tory said they did not believe his position was tenable, adding: “The handling has been so bad. The optics are terrible. And his judgement is sorely lacking.”

In his social media post, Mr Duguid said it was the party management board "that decided not to allow me to be the candidate, although none of them had visited me".

The former Scotland Office minister added: "They apparently took this decision based on two visits from the party director and without receiving any professional medical prognosis."

He said he had been "very much looking forward to campaigning - albeit in a different format from normal" after being adopted by local party members.

Mr Duguid - who will not be eligible for a £15,000 redundancy payment from Parliament - added that he was "very saddened by the way this whole episode has unfolded and it would be wrong of me to pretend otherwise".

He had been the MP for Banff and Buchan since 2017. The seat has been renamed as Aberdeenshire and Moray East because boundary changes have seen its borders expand into eastern Moray.

Mr Ross had been serving as both the MP for Moray and an MSP for the Highlands and Islands, but had previously pledged to stand down from Westminster at this election.

The Moray constituency, which he had been the MP for since 2017, no longer exists.

It has been cut in two at the general election, with Keith and Buckie swallowed up by Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, while Elgin joins a new Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey seat.

Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Ross defended his decision to run in the election at the expense of Mr Duguid.

He said the "very unique circumstances" and timings meant the party had just over 24 hours to get another candidate in place, so he decided to put himself forward.

Mr Ross said Mr Duguid had been an "absolute champion" for the area and the party had a "difficult decision" to make.

He added: "The party management board had to look at the situation right now, the situation with David's health, his recovery, that was at the heart of the decision the management board took.

"It was a very difficult decision, and I understand how difficult it has been for David, for his family, for his staff. I have been in touch with his office."

Asked if he has spoken to Mr Duguid since he put himself forward for the seat, Mr Ross said he had "reached out" to him, adding that "he will maybe speak when he is able to and he feels able to speak".

Pressed on whether he had messaged Mr Duguid or tried to speak to him, Mr Ross added: "We have done both, but given he is in hospital it is not straightforward.

"I have been in conversation with David's office and such like, relaying as much support as we can".

Some in the party feel the move may have derailed the Conservatives’ campaign in Scotland, and there is concern about the possibility of Mr Ross continuing to be both an MP and MSP in the event he wins the seat.

He has been donating his MSP salary to charity.

Another Conservative source said: “If he wins the mood will be that he needs to go as no one can adequately cover all those jobs.

“If he loses along with a poor result then he will be blamed as well.”

There has also been speculation from some within the party that Mr Ross may stand down of his own accord shortly after the election.

Rival parties accused Mr Ross of betraying a colleague by putting himself forward to stand in the seat.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, an SNP MSP, said the move was "another broken promise from Douglas Ross and the Conservatives."

She added: "The bigger concern that I have is that there is a local Conservative that was obviously supported by local Conservative members currently recovering in hospital who has been betrayed, ejected from his seat in order to allow Douglas Ross to stand.

"That raises profoundly big questions for the Conservatives and also their commitment to the north east."

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said it showed there is "no promise flip-flop Ross won't break".

She said: "Douglas Ross is treating his constituents with contempt by refusing to give up one of his three jobs and his shoddy treatment of his own colleague shows how morally bankrupt the Tories are.

"The Scottish Tories can no longer attempt to distance themselves from the carnage we have seen in Downing Street - Douglas Ross has always been right at the heart of this rotten Tory government."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said Mr Duguid is a "capable parliamentarian" who had respect from all sides of the political divide.

He added: "As for Douglas's decision, that's really a matter for Douglas and the internal workings of the Conservative Party."

A full list of candidates in the constituency will be published on the BBC News website after nominations close on Friday