Ruth is ‘conf licted on Brexit’ and may now quit altogether
FORMER Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has said she may not stand in an election again – bringing an end to her career in politics.
Miss Davidson said she was ‘ hopelessly conflicted’ about Brexit and wanted to spend more time with her baby son, Finn.
But the 40-year-old politician may be open to backing the ‘No’ campaign in a second Scottish independence referendum, she added.
Speaking at a book festival, Miss Davidson said she was not likely to stand again at the Scottish Parliament elections in 2021.
She stepped down as leader of the Scottish Conservatives in August after eight years in the job but will remain an MSP in Holyrood for the next two years.
She said: ‘It’s a fairly open secret that I think I’m going to see out my term. I’m giving myself the option to change my mind but I don’t think that I will stand again.’
Miss Davidson added that, although it was true that she and Boris Johnson were ‘not buddy, buddy pals’, she did not leave due to disagreements with him.
She went on to tell the Wigtown Book Festival in Scotland that she left her leadership job because she was ‘hopelessly conflicted by Brexit’. She also said she wanted to spend more time being a mother after giving birth to her son Finn last year.
On a second independence referendum, she added: ‘Look, I hope there won’t be a next time. I will do what I can to stop that happening but, if it is happening, there is absolutely no way that I am going to sit it out.
‘This is my country, it’s what I’ve fought for, it’s what I believe in. And whether anyone wants me to hold a position or whether they want me to go round, knock on doors and hand out leaflets – I’m happy doing both.’
Miss Davidson added: ‘I’ve just left a big job, I’m not angling for another, I could be yesterday’s news a week on Tuesday.
‘I’m not going to pretend that I would be the best person for the job, if it ever happens, in ten or 15 years’ time, but if people want a hand then I’ll help.’
After saying she was unsure what direction her career would take in the future – it may be in business or charity – Miss Davidson added she ‘was gainfully employed until May 2021’. She added that she believed that the public would soon demand higher standards of public debate.
Asked if she worried about the tone of public discourse, especially on social media, she said: ‘Yes, I do. I personally think that it will self-right. I think there comes a point where the public of this country will be so disgusted that they will demand better.’
The former BBC journalist cited ‘professional and personal’ changes as reasons for her decision to stand down as party leader.
She clashed with Mr Johnson during the Brexit referendum and her resignation came just a day after the Prime Minister announced he was to temporarily suspend Parliament in the run-up to the UK’s EU departure date of October 31.
‘I don’t think I will stand again’