Is Tory star Ruth going to challenge for leader?
RUTH Davidson fuelled speculation about her Tory leadership ambitions last night as she revealed that she may stand for Parliament at the next election.
The charismatic Scottish Conservative leader, who has overseen a Tory revival north of the border, is widely considered one of the party’s brightest stars.
Several leading figures, including David Cameron, are said to have encouraged her to stand for the party leadership in future – a move which would require her to become a Westminster MP.
Until now Miss Davidson, 39, has insisted her ambitions lie solely in Scottish politics.
In an interview with the Spectator magazine yesterday, she confirmed her sights were set on dislodging Nicola Sturgeon as Scotland’s First Minister.
She ruled out taking on the job of Conservative Party chairman, insisting that ‘leading the party in Scotland is a bigger job than being Conservative Party chairman’.
But she dropped heavy hints that she will consider a move to Westminster if she fails to become First Minister in 2021.
When asked what could happen if the Tories come third in the 2021 Scottish elections, after recent polls showed Labour in second place, she said: ‘I’ve been leader of the party now for six years. My two predecessors lasted six and a half years each.’
By the time of the next Holyrood elections, she would have been in charge of the party for ‘significantly longer’ than them. ‘Then we can start other conversations,’ she said.
Asked if those would include conversations about her coming to Westminster, she said: ‘I haven’t ruled it out. If devolution is going to work, then actually there has to be the ability to move between chambers and parliaments.’ Pressed further on whether she would only stand for a Scottish seat, Miss Davidson said: ‘Yes.’
Miss Davidson has added to speculation about her ambitions during a series of trips south of the border.
And while the Conservatives in England lost seats in the general election in June, the Scottish Tories’ tally of MPs went from one to 13.