Davidson accused of ‘hypocrisy’ over £3,000 fee for one web article

TOM GORDON

Unherd in July. The money, declared in her parliamentary register of interests, brings her outside earnings in the last year to almost £30,000.

The money is on top of the Edinburgh Central MSP’s basic salary of £61,778.

Ms Davidson’s article was titled “Ctrl + Alt + Del. Conservatives must reboot capitalism.” In it, she said that, despite capitalism’s huge successes, “inequality” and “injustice” meant people were “losing faith” in its ability to make their lives better. She also attacked “restrictive practice” and “creeping cronyism”.

Unherd is run by Tory journalist Tim Montgomerie, who has tipped Ms Davidson as a possible leader of the UK Conservatives.

Ms Davidson’s piece concluded: “Capitalism has lifted billions out of poverty and made the world a better, safer, healthier, more comfortable place. It’s not working for everyone, however, and some people are enriching themselves through the kind of restrictive practices that Adam Smith warned us about two centuries ago.

“Nationally and internationally, capitalism needs a reboot. Time to press Ctrl + Alt + Del.”

SNP MSP George Adam said: “Ruth Davidson’s hypocrisy knows no bounds – even when she is admitting to how her own party has reduced living standards, she is coining it in.

“Pound-a-word Davidson has absolutely no self-awareness.

In addition to the £3,000 from Unherd Limited, which is bankrolled by former LibDem donor and Brexiteer Sir Paul Marshall, Ms Davidson earned another £25,565 last year.

The Scottish Conservatives did not respond to a request for a comment.