THE SNP have said Jackson Carlaw's resignation has left the Scottish Tories in a "real crisis".
SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown said the decision proves Westminster is pulling the strings.
He added: "On behalf of all my SNP colleagues I wish Jackson Carlaw the very best for the future.
"Jackson clearly understands that voters in Scotland simply don’t want what Boris Johnson and the Tories are selling.
"Today's resignation is further evidence of the growing discomfort with their position as a Westminster party.
“With the surge of recent resignations, and a distinct lack of talent in their ranks, the Scottish Tories are in real crisis.
“The fact the only person being thought of as a replacement is an MP who couldn’t hack it at Holyrood and ran off to Westminster shows how slim the pickings really are.”
READ MORE: Jackson Carlaw resigns as leader of the Scottish Conservatives
Jackson Carlaw was elected leader in February, replacing Ruth Davidson.
The MSP has concluded he is not the best person to make the case for Scotland staying in the Union.
In a statement, he said: "Over the summer I have had the chance to think hard about my role as leader of the Scottish Conservatives.
"Nothing is more important to me than making the case for Scotland's place in the United Kingdom.
“I believe the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party is the most important voice in Scotland for setting out that positive argument. I am clear that nothing must get in the way of doing so.
"In the last few weeks, I have reached a simple if painful conclusion – that I am not, in the present circumstances, the person best placed to lead that case over these next vital months in Scottish politics prior to the Holyrood elections. Given the importance I attach to the job, I've therefore decided to stand down with immediate effect."
Tory MP Douglas Ross is expected to take over the role, backed by Ruth Davidson and John Lamont.
Ross resigned from the Scotland Office in June in protest over Boris Johnson’s refusal to sack senior adviser Dominic Cummings.
READ MORE: Douglas Ross rumoured to take over as Jackson Carlaw quits
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