Davidson steps down with Brexit plea to Johnson
Scottish Tory leader quits, citing the impact of politics on her family life and the prospect of more elections
‘To colleagues who want to avoid no-deal, vote for a deal, you’ve had three [chances], you blew every one of them, don’t blow a fourth’
RUTH DAVIDSON yesterday resigned as Scottish Tory leader with a parting plea to Boris Johnson to fight for a Brexit deal and to MPS across the Commons to back it.
Ms Davidson blamed the impact of the role on her family life for her decision to quit, saying the prospect of fighting a Westminster then Holyrood election in the next 20 months “now fills me with dread”.
Speaking at a press conference in Edinburgh, she said she did not want to spend hours on the road campaigning, away from Jen Wilson, her partner, and their 10-month-old son Finn. Although she insisted that her difficult relationship with Boris Johnson, of whom she has been a persistent critic, was not a contributory factor, she admitted that she felt “conflict” over Brexit.
Ms Davidson said the Prime Minister had convinced her during a meeting in London last week that he was sincere about getting a deal with the EU and she backed his controversial decision to prorogue Parliament, but appealed to him to redouble his efforts.
In a message to MPS who oppose a no-deal Brexit, she said many had voted against Theresa May’s deal three times and warned them not to blow any fourth chance. She also made a lastditch plea for politicians across the UK to respect their opponents’ views, arguing that otherwise the divisions created by the Scottish independence and EU referendums could not be healed.
Although news of her decision was leaked on Wednesday as Boris Johnson moved to suspend Parliament, her spokesman said she had been considering quitting from the role she has held since 2011 for a year and had informed close aides that she wanted to go in the hours after May’s EU elections.
He said she had made her final decision to go on Monday, and had only found out about Mr Johnson’s plan to prorogue Parliament on Wednesday.
Ms Davidson held a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister on Wednesday afternoon in which he expressed his disappointment, but he did not attempt to change her mind.
Her decision is a major blow to the Conservatives’ electoral prospects after she spearheaded the party’s revival in Scotland. It also represents a boost for Nicola Sturgeon in her bid to win another term as First Minister in the May 2021 Holyrood election, and another independence referendum.
Two of the MSPS considering entering the contest to replace her – Adam Tomkins and Murdo Fraser – want to reignite the debate about loosening ties with the UK party, a move that Ms Davidson opposed.
Last night, the Scottish Tories management board appointed Jackson Carlaw as interim leader pending a contest.
“The management board of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party will promulgate rules for a leadership election later this year to allow for the election of a new leader,” a spokesman for the party said.
Ms Davidson has repeatedly expressed her fierce opposition to a nodeal Brexit and was challenged on whether Mr Johnson’s strategy had contributed to her decision to quit.
She said: “I went down to Downing Street last week to meet him in a private meeting. I stared him right in the eye and I asked him – ‘I need to know, are you actually trying to get a deal or not?’
“He categorically assured me he was, he believes his efforts in Biarritz helped open the door. A crack.”
In a direct challenge to opposition MPS, she said: “To colleagues who want to avoid no-deal, vote for a deal, you’ve had three opportunities, you blew
‘I fear, having tried to be a good leader over the years, I have proved a poor daughter, sister, partner and friend’
every one of them, don’t blow a fourth. I know the Prime Minister is seeking to get a deal.”
Thanking Ms Davidson for her “wonderful service”, Mr Johnson said: “She has dedicated so much time and energy to the role and has been instrumental in the revival of our electoral fortunes in Scotland.”
David Cameron said: “Her brand of fearless, forthright Conservatism has transformed our party in Scotland and we owe her an enormous debt.”
But in a veiled attack on Mr Cameron’s decision to quit after the Brexit vote in 2016, Ms Davidson said: “I am convinced that referenda should be used to affirm public opinion but not as a way for political leaders to fail to lead.”
Ms Davidson said it had been the “privilege of my life” to be leader and being part of the Better Together campaign in the 2014 independence referendum was “the most important contribution of my working life”. But she said: “I have to be honest that where the idea of getting on the road to fight two elections in 20 months would once have fired me up, the threat of spending hundreds of hours away from my home and family now fills me with dread. That is no way to lead.”
She added: “Additionally, I fear that having tried to be a good leader over the years, I have proved a poor daughter, sister, partner and friend. The party and my work has always come first, often at the expense of commitments to loved ones. The arrival of my son means I now make a different choice.”
Ms Davidson said she would continue as Edinburgh Central MSP until the 2021 Holyrood election, but made no commitment after that.
Ms Sturgeon said: “I know well the toll political leadership can take on family life and no one will grudge her more time with her young son.”