IT MAY be over a month since July's election, but politicians across Scotland are still waiting for the dust to settle after the seismic shift that we saw in Scotland's political narrative.

For we in the Scottish Conservatives also, the results of last month's election mean it is time for our party to consider some much-needed questions.

It may be true that in Scotland, the Conservatives made it through the election largely unscathed, with our party losing just a single seat, but with less than two years until the next Scottish election, it is nevertheless clear that now is the time for our party to take stock, regroup, and consider how we plan for the future.

In recent elections, the threat of a possible second independence referendum meant that our party's main message focused on opposing the SNP, rather than on what we as conservatives really stand for. Of course, there were good reasons for this approach in recent elections, with the SNP having spent most of the last decade creating constitutional grievances at every opportunity.

However, with the SNP suffering major losses in last month's election and a second independence referendum thankfully off the table for the time being, our party can no longer rely on this same message to connect with the Scottish public.

As it stands, we are a political party in need of a new message. We are also a party in need of a new leader, with Douglas Ross stepping down from this role after four years in the job.

The next task ahead of us is therefore to find a leader who can deliver the change our party needs. Someone who is clear and honest about what we stand for.

Someone who can connect with voters across all areas of Scotland. Most importantly, it must be someone who is willing to make a positive case for why conservative values should matter to voters.

While several talented candidates have already put themselves forward, I am happy to endorse Russell Findlay for the top job. Not only does Russell have what it takes to be an effective leader, he also has the right vision for our party's future.

He has highlighted the need to challenge the left-wing consensus that currently dominates Scotland, and the need to champion conservative values such as the rule of law, the small but steady hand of government and fiscal responsibility.

Whatever happens in this contest over the next two months, it is important for this to be a respectful debate between competing ideas; something which I hope each candidate agrees with.

Our party may be in need of a change of direction, but as Scottish Conservatives we can be positive about what we have to offer people across Scotland.

I firmly believe that conservative values stand on their own merits, and there are many like-minded people across the country who agree. However, going forward, it is time for our party to finally make the case for what we do stand for, rather than shouting about what we don't.