Ruth a ‘good leader’ to follow Theresa
HER stock has continued to rise after revitalising the Conservative Party north of the Border.
Now it seems the Tory faithful across the rest of the UK are coming round to the prospect of having Ruth Davidson take over from Theresa May.
A poll of Conservative Party members found that 58 per cent of respondents thought she would make a ‘good leader’, compared to 56 per cent who thought that Boris Johnson would offer good leadership.
But when the YouGov poll asked directly who ought to be the next leader, the Foreign Secretary polled 23 per cent while 19 per cent backed Miss Davidson.
High-profile backbencher Jacob ReesMogg was third with 17 per cent of votes – despite being branded ‘extreme’ over his opposition to abortion in all circumstances, including rape.
The poll found 53 per cent thought Mr Rees-Mogg would be a good leader, while 42 per cent said Home Secretary Amber Rudd had the qualities to take over.
More than a third of party members want Mrs May to quit after the UK leaves the EU in 2019, with 29 per cent believing she should stay on and contest the next election.
But a substantial 71 per cent said they believed that Mrs May was doing a good job in her role as Prime Minister.
Miss Davidson’s popularity within the Conservative party has continued to grow over the past few years and, following the Scottish Tories’ success at the general election, it has been suggested she now has newfound power within the party.
In Scotland, the Conservatives gained 12 new MPs, thought to be largely responsible for keeping the Tories in government – after a disastrous night for the party south of the Border.
But Miss Davidson has repeatedly played down claims she would take up the role as UK leader of the party and a move to Westminster.
Last night a spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: ‘Flattering though it is, Ruth’s focus is at Holyrood and becoming Scotland’s next First Minister.’