Put the country first!

RUTH Davidson’s decision to quit as Scottish Conservative leader is a painful blow. Her remarkable dynamism drove the party’s revival north of the Border, seizing traditional Labour strongholds and winning over Lib Dem supporters.

For pro-Unionists sick of SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon’s triumphalist separatism, she raised a banner around which to rally.

Charismatic, courageous and possessing a common touch, Miss Davidson put to bed perceptions that the Tories were nasty, hard-hearted and homophobic.

Crucially, she propelled the Conservatives to win 13 Scottish seats at Westminster – a godsend in a hung parliament.

There is no doubt she will be an enormous loss. But it’s perfectly understandable she longs for time away from the political hurlyburly to spend with her baby son.

Of course, it’s no secret she didn’t always see eye to eye with Boris Johnson. And yes, she was fearful of a No Deal Brexit. Frankly, who isn’t? But backing him to secure an agreement with the EU, yesterday she astutely hit the nail on the head. Hadn’t many of the opposition MPs wailing like banshees about the spectre of No Deal repeatedly – and cynically – rejected Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement?

Or as Miss Davidson exquisitely put it: ‘They had a goal gaping in front of them three times and they hit the ball over the bar.’

Now the Remain ‘ultras’ are having a fit of the vapours because Mr Johnson, by proroguing Parliament, has reduced their opportunity to sabotage Brexit.

Really, how can these political pygmies lecture the Prime Minister on democracy and what’s best for Britain when they so pathetically put party before country in their frenzied lust for power?

If they truly want to avert No Deal (rather than disingenuously scuppering Brexit), maybe they should stop using every trick in the book to hobble him. And if he returns from Brussels with a deal, maybe back it?