DOUGLAS Ross is facing calls to quit as an MSP as he was branded "totally devoid of honour" after announcing he would step down as Scottish Tory leader following the election.
Ross also said that if he won the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat for the Conservatives, he would leave Holyrood in favour of sitting in Westminster.
It has led to a flurry of invective towards the Scottish Tory leader, with critics saying he was forced out over a row about former candidate David Duguid being blocked from running for re-election in the new constituency.
Seamus Logan, the SNP’s candidate in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East demanded Ross quit as an MSP “today”.
He added: “It's clear he's been forced out as Scottish Tory leader after his shameful behaviour over David Duguid and his growing expenses scandal. Voters deserve a dedicated MSP – not one who is hedging his bets in case he loses the election.
“On July 4, voters in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East can show Douglas Ross the door for good by voting SNP to put Scotland's interests first.”
It was revealed by the Sunday Mail that Ross had been accused of charging the taxpayer for travel expenses associated with his side job as a football referee. Ross insists all expenses are above board.
Former first minister Alex Salmond, leader of the Alba Party, said: “This is the first case of a rat deserting a sinking ship whilst simultaneously trying to clamber aboard a gravy train.
“Douglas Ross requires to resign as candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray Easy where he stabbed David Duguid in the back. Ross is totally devoid of honour.”
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: "At times like these it is customary to say something conciliatory about a departing MSP, but Douglas Ross has been perhaps the worst leader in the Scottish Tories’ history and the Scottish Parliament and indeed, Scottish politics, will be well rid of him.
“He embodies everything that is wrong with the Tory party in his anti-environment, anti-equality, anti-democratic pursuit of self interest, epitomised by his ill-judged swoop for David Duguid’s Westminster seat even while he recovers from serious illness.
“The fact he only now accepts that he must resign his seat as an MSP if he is returned to the House of Commons shows the utter contempt with which he holds his constituents and the Scottish Parliament."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: “This is yet more proof of a Conservative Party in abject disarray.
“Just like the SNP, the Tories have been in power for too long, breaking rules and taking you for granted. They aren’t focused on what really matters like fast access to your GP, seeing an NHS dentist, tackling sewage dumping and lifting up Scottish education.
“People all across Scotland have had enough. The Conservatives have got to go and Liberal Democrats are working flat-out to win the change our country desperately needs.”
Elsewhere, SNP MP Pete Wishart (below) commented: "He simply had to go but this Conservative campaign could not get any more chaotic and self destructive.
"Hopefully this will end the reign of angry, agitated Scottish Conservatism, but somehow I doubt it..."
Scottish Culture Secretary Angus Robertson meanwhile said: "Looks like having three jobs, u-turning on his pledge not to stand for Westminster, stabbing his hospitalised colleague David Duguid in the back and now an expenses scandal was too much - even for the Scottish Tories."
Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer said: "Can't Scotland have the best of both worlds and he resigns from both parliaments simultaneously? He's got plenty of other jobs to keep him busy."
