Kemi Badenoch has been accused of interfering in the Scottish Conservative leadership contest after she publicly backed a candidate. The former UK leadership contender, who was eliminated from the race to replace Boris Johnson, endorsed Russell Findlay, a Scottish Tory MSP, to succeed Douglas Ross as party leader in Scotland.
Badenoch's intervention has sparked criticism from some within the Scottish party, who argue that it undermines the autonomy of the Scottish Conservatives. One senior Scottish Tory source described the move as 'unhelpful' and said it risked creating divisions ahead of the contest.
The Scottish leadership race was triggered after Douglas Ross announced he would step down, following a difficult period for the party in Scotland. The contest has already seen tensions between different factions, and Badenoch's endorsement is seen by some as an attempt to influence the outcome from outside.
Badenoch defended her decision, stating that she believes Findlay is the best candidate to lead the Scottish party and take the fight to the SNP. However, her involvement has raised questions about the relationship between the UK and Scottish wings of the Conservative Party.
The Scottish leadership election is due to conclude later this month, with members voting on the next leader. The result will be closely watched as an indicator of the party's direction north of the border.
