Davidson tells ‘glum’ Tories to lighten up

Downing Street has rejected any suggestion that Theresa May’s government is “dour” and “joyless” after Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson called on her party to lighten up.

At the launch of a new centre-right think-tank on Monday, Ms Davidson said her party had to overhaul its image if it was to have a hope of attracting young voters who are increasingly shunning the Tories.

Only 9 per cent of 25- to 39-year-olds say they plan to vote Conservative in 2022, research suggests.

“Too often, Conservatives end up, well, a bit dour. Authoritarian. Just a tad joyless,” Ms Davidson told colleagues at the Westminster reception for the launch of Onward.

“If there’s one thing we’ve learnt in Scotland, it’s that when you fight for what you believe, people listen, but it’s when you do it with a smile that people really get behind you.”

During the challenging 2017 general election campaign, Mrs May was accused of being a “glum bucket” for her awkward, tightly scripted public appearances.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister faced further pressure over her Brexit plans as Jacob Rees-mogg accused the government of being prepared to “kowtow” to Brussels.

Mr Rees-mogg, leader of the influential European Research Group, said the approach adopted to the talks was a “sign of abject weakness”.