The most inf luential female politician in Britain? That’s Ruth!
Tory leader on US magazine’s list of world’s top 100 people
SHE has already been tipped as a future Prime Minister and lauded for being the saviour of the Conservatives in Scotland.
So with her popularity soaring across the UK, it is perhaps no surprise that Ruth Davidson has started to attract attention from overseas.
Yesterday it was disclosed that the Scottish Tory leader has been named as one of the most influential people in the world.
She has appeared on Time magazine’s list alongside world leaders including Justin Trudeau, Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron and New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
Miss Davidson is one of only two UK politicians to appear on the list, which draws together the top 100 influencers – and also includes Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The US magazine describes Miss Davidson as a ‘pioneer’ and features a gushing statement from Scots historian Professor Niall Ferguson on how she transformed the Conservatives north of the Border.
Last year Miss Davidson led her party to their best general election result in decades, returning 13 MPs to Westminster – and securing Downing Street for Theresa May.
Since then, she has appeared to flex her muscles and seek to influence those within her party, with many suggesting she is a future leader and possible UK Prime Minister.
The Time 100 list has been published every year since 1999 and celebrates those who are ‘changing the world’ regardless of the circumstances.
Miss Davidson was said by a party spokesman to be ‘extremely honoured’ to be included on this year’s list.
In his appreciation in Time magazine, Professor Ferguson claimed that the Tories had ‘looked as dead as a dodo in Scotland’ before Miss Davidson took over, with her ‘refreshing, rambunctious style’ responsible for the change in their fate.
He wrote: ‘There was a time when the Conservative Party looked dead as a dodo in Scotland. Having won majorities of Scottish votes in the 1950s, the Tories seemed to have gone extinct by 1997, when not a single one of their candidates won in Scotland.
‘The party’s resurrection – it won 31 seats in the Scottish parliament in 2016 and 29 per cent of the Scottish vote in last year’s UK general election – owes much to the refreshing, rambunctious style of Ruth Davidson.’
He also used his statement to pay tribute to Miss Davidson’s LGBT rights campaigning, describing her as a ‘proponent of same-sex marriage’ while noting that she will soon marry her partner Jen Wilson.
He ended by saying that, while she has claimed she has ‘no plans’ to move to London, ‘many voters south of the Border would love her to reconsider’.
Following last year’s general election, Miss Davidson’s popularity has soared. She has since featured in Vogue magazine, in which she disclosed that she knew she would marry her fiancée after only three dates.
She spoke candidly of her wedding and said she had ‘surprised herself’ after falling in love with Miss Wilson so quickly.
The politician also appeared on the Great British Bake Off charity edition – and won her round.
Her growing popularity and appearances across the UK have led to claims Miss Davidson is aiming to boost her national image.
Despite being tipped as a future Tory leader and Prime Minister, Miss Davidson insists she hopes to become Scotland’s next First Minister – and has set her sights on ousting Nicola Sturgeon at the 2021 Holyrood election.
Last night a spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: ‘Ruth is extremely honoured to be included on such a list.
‘And while she is flattered to receive an accolade from across the Atlantic, her full focus remains on her job here in Scotland.’
‘Refreshing and rambunctious’