Ruth: Report me to watchdog if I’ve broken any rules

Davidson defiant in row over £50,000 job

RUTH Davidson has thrown down the gauntlet to critics who have attacked her for taking on a second job.

The former Scottish Tory leader declared last week that she had accepted a £50,000-ayear consultancy job in addition to her role as an MSP.

Yesterday, she challenged any MSP who felt she had done something wrong to refer her to the parliamentary watchdog.

Ms Davidson insisted her new PR job did not break Holyrood rules – and said she would refer herself to the standards commissioner if she could.

She will work 24 days a year for Tulchan Communications, a London-based lobbying firm.

It sparked calls she resign amid claims she had ‘brought parliament into disrepute’.

Opposition parties insisted she could not represent both her Edinburgh Central constituents and private companies looking for advice on how to lobby politicians.

But Ms Davidson, who earns £63,579 as an MSP, denied there was a conflict in a statement yesterday and in her Scottish Mail on Sunday column. She said: ‘I conducted due diligence

– both on Tulchan and by sitting down with the parliament’s standards clerks to ensure there was no conflict.

‘Since the announcement of the role, questions have arisen, despite legal and contractual assurances it involves no lobbying or advice on parliamentary strategy.

‘I spoke to standards officials again yesterday to examine what further reassurances I could make to demonstrate I was working well within my responsibilities as a member and asked for guidance on whether the standards commissioner could be asked to make a ruling.

‘I was informed that, because any referral must contain the area where a transgression is believed to have occurred, and evidence to support the claim,

I would be unable to refer myself as there is no such transgression to report.

‘I would ask any member who believes there is any element of wrongdoing to make such a referral. I’ll co-operate fully.

‘I am also happy to cede any monies until the referral is resolved and recuse myself from the Scottish Parliament’s Corporate Body during the period of referral, should SPCB members wish me to do so.’

Ms Davidson transformed the fortunes of her party during her hugely successful eight years as leader. She was a strong campaigner for Remain during the EU referendum and admitted she had been ‘hopelessly conflicted over Brexit’.

She became a mother last year, with son Finn celebrating his first birthday yesterday.

She quit as Scottish Tory leader in August and has said she does not intend to stand again as an MSP in 2021.

Scottish Labour MSP Neil Findlay, who has launched a Bill which is aimed at banning politicians from taking second jobs, said: ‘Irrespective of Ruth Davidson’s protests and claims, the fact remains that she will be working for a lobbying firm representing clients whose aims and objectives are to use her political influence, contacts and knowledge to enhance their business opportunities.

‘That is incompatible with remaining as a member of the Scottish parliament.’