CHANGE is a “matter of survival” for the Scottish Tories, leadership hopeful Murdo Fraser said today.

He welcomed the backing of two other MSPs who dropped out of the race and called on his remaining rivals, Russell Findlay and Meghan Gallacher, to do the same.

In a speech, Mr Fraser pitched himself as the candidate for change, borrowing a phrase from Kate Forbes’s SNP leadership bid: “continuity won’t cut it.”

He said: “For too long in this party we have had too much power concentrated in too few hands, and now we see the effects of that. That has to change now.”

Reports have suggested that outgoing Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has already named Mr Findlay to be his successor.

Speaking to the press, the current Scottish Tory justice spokesman said he made “a bad call” when backing Liz Truss as prime minister.

The former crime journalist turned politician endorsed Ms Truss in August 2022 as she fought to be Tory leader.

She lasted only 49 days as prime minister and was famously outlasted by a live-streamed lettuce.

Asked about his endorsement, Mr Findlay said: “We all get things wrong. I got that wrong.”