FORMER Tory MP David Duguid has issued a new statement after he was blocked from standing at the upcoming General Election.
It comes following Douglas Ross’s major U-turn on his pledge not to stand as an MP.
On Thursday, the Scottish Tory leader insisted he had “absolutely nothing to do with” the decision to block Duguid from standing, saying it was down to his party’s management board – on which he sits.
Duguid, a former Scotland Office minister is currently recovering in hospital after serious health difficulties involving his spine and pneumonia.
However, he issued a statement on Twitter/X on Friday to correct some “factual inaccuracies” around him not standing.
He said: “I want to express my sincere thanks to everyone who sent me messages of support after the news I shared last night about my not being put forward as the Scottish Conservative & Unionist candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East.
“I must however clear up a factual inaccuracy. It has been reported and repeated that I am ‘unable to stand’.
“This is simply incorrect. Having been adopted by local members, I was very much looking forward to campaigning – albeit in a different format from normal. It was not my decision not to stand.
“It was the SCU Management Board that decided not to allow me to be the candidate although none of them had visited me. They apparently took this decision based on two visits from the party director and without receiving any professional medical prognosis.”
Duguid added that he was “very saddened by the way this whole episode has unfolded and it would be wrong of me to pretend otherwise”.
🗣️ 'There's some great big questions for him on a day that he betrays a Conservative candidate in the north east' Deputy First Minister @_KateForbes takes aim at Douglas Ross after he U-turned on his pledge not to run to be an MP pic.twitter.com/9rcpwkFPA1
— The National (@ScotNational) June 6, 2024
The statement continued: “But the process to adopt Douglas Ross to replace me as the candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East is now well underway.
“For my part I would just like to say that it really has been an honour and privilege to serve you for the last seven years.”
Douglas Ross was widely condemned for his U-turn on standing with Kate Forbes taking aim at him during FMQs.
Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Ross said Duguid has been an "absolute champion" for the area and that the management board had a "difficult decision" to make.
He said: “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 Duguid since he put himself forward for the seat, 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 Duguid or tried to speak to him, the Scottish Tory leader 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.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives previously said: “David Duguid is unfortunately unable to stand in this election.
“David has been an excellent MP and great local representative for the last seven years.
“We thank David for all his hard work for the party, we look forward to his recovery to full health and hope that he will rejoin frontline politics in the future.”
