Garda sources say two of the men were arrested during an intelligence-led operation in Dublin earlier this week
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22 Oct 2025
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22 Oct 2025
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Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane has backed Russell Findlay in the party’s leadership race.
He is the latest MSP to support Mr Findlay in his bid to succeed Douglas Ross.
It comes amid reports that Mr Findlay’s supporters want to see the race formally begin soon.
Mr Findlay, a former journalist who is the Scottish Conservative justice spokesman, became the first to officially launch his campaign earlier this week.
@RussellFindlay1 is principled and has a track record in fighting for what he believes in. I have no hesitation in backing him to be leader. pic.twitter.com/Bsfje7llq3
— Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP (@Sandeshgulhane) July 24, 2024
A number of other MSPs are understood to be considering their options on a potential run for the leadership.
Posting on social media, Dr Gulhane said Mr Findlay “is principled and has a track record in fighting for what he believes in”.
He added: “I have no hesitation in backing him to be leader.”
Other Tories backing the former investigative journalist include MSPs Miles Briggs and Rachael Hamilton and the MP Andrew Bowie.
The Scottish Daily Mail reported Mr Findlay’s supporters want to see the Scottish race begin quickly and conclude well before the UK party announces its new leader in early November.
However others are understood to favour a slower start to the Scottish contest.
One of those considering a tilt at the leadership is Murdo Fraser, who lost out to Ruth Davidson during a race for the job in 2011.
During that contest he suggested the Scottish Conservatives should split away from the UK-wide party.
But he has now told the Holyrood Sources podcast he has reflected on that idea “a lot” and concluded there should be a different way forward – suggesting the Conservatives would fight for Westminster seats but a new centre-right party would contest Holyrood ones.
The Scottish Conservatives are currently running a consultation with their members on what form the leadership election should take.
A party spokesperson said: “Following the initial meeting of the party management board, a consultation is under way with elected representatives and the voluntary party. This will allow the board to hear views throughout the party on the process for the leadership contest.
“The management board will then meet in the coming weeks to discuss those views and further details about the contest will be outlined.”
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