SIMMERING Scottish Tory tensions are starting to boil over amid a dismal showing in the country's council elections – with the party's Holyrood finance spokesperson Liz Smith questioning branch office leader Douglas Ross's stance on Boris Johnson.

Voters across the UK have hammered the Tories at the polls amid a wave of sleaze and lies from the party.

READ MORE: Scottish local elections 2022: Follow live results and updates

In Scotland, the party lost key seats and saw their share of the vote drop by double-digits in a number of wards.

Speaking on BBC News, Ross admitted the results were "very disappointing" and claimed anger at the partygate row had kept his voters at home.

The National: Prime Minister Boris Johnson

The Scottish Tory leader had initially called on the Prime Minister to stand down over his breaking of Covid laws, before U-turning when it was clear there was not sufficient support at Westminster to oust him.

Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Smith has now said she would not have gone back on the call for a resignation.

Speaking to The Times, she said: “Douglas will have to explain why he is defending him as prime minister but blaming him for the result. Douglas will have to explain the two sides of that coin.

“I think the Boris factor is big, especially in Scotland. Scotland wants to be able to trust somebody and a lot of our voters feel the prime minister has let them down.”