Ruth stopped Mun dells from being political ‘family at war’
AS her gutsy defence of tax credits proved, Ruth Davidson is not afraid to stand up to colleagues in the UK Government.
But calling Scottish Secretary David Mundell and insisting his son stand for Holyrood was a new kind of political confrontation – even for her.
After launching the Scottish Tory election campaign, Miss Davidson admitted the conversation with her close political ally was her ‘worst phone call ever’.
She said: ‘I had a very interesting conversation with David Mundell’s son, Oliver, who came up to me and said his dad was suggesting he couldn’t stand.
‘He asked me if I could have a word. I had the worst phone call ever, phoning David and going, “I know, you don’t want a politician’s life for your son, given the difficulties that you have, and he’s just got married. But he’s done this. He’s been treated the same as everyone else, so I have to ask you to let him do this, because he’s a grown man.”
‘He got selected to fight the Dumfriesshire seat and I’m on the campaign trail with him on Saturday.’
Oliver was hardly groomed for a life in politics, having grown up in a household where the subject was banned at the dinner table. But his decision to stand raises the possibility of a Tory dynasty in the South of Scotland.
The 26-year-old is standing in Dumfriesshire, covering part of the Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale seat his father has held at Westminster since 2005. The Holyrood seat is held
‘I had the worst phone call ever’
by Labour’s Elaine Murray. But the recently married Oliver has already established himself in the area, after helping lead the local No campaign last year.
It was that experience which made him decide on a career in politics – despite his father’s initial misgivings.
David Mundell said: ‘I’m his father, not his MP. Any father wants to be sure that their children are doing what’s best for them. I wanted to be clear he had fully thought it through and he knew what type of life it is.
‘It’s not a nine to five job, it’s a massive commitment. Having just got married, I wanted to be absolutely sure his wife was going to be supportive of it. He has thought it through and is working very hard as a candidate.’
Oliver, who studied law at Edinburgh University and has worked as a paralegal for Shell, said: ‘It was the referendum that hooked me. I just felt I could not sit on my hands and not do anything. People have a very real choice between Scottish Conservatives and a Scottish Government which is not willing to listen to the views of the people I am seeking to represent.’
Yesterday, Miss Davidson challenged her party to overtake Labour as the main opposition to the SNP in Scotland.
She said: ‘Here’s my message, 150 days out. Scotland isn’t a oneparty state. Not while I’m around it won’t be. Our party has the team, the commitment, the energy, the ideas and the vision for the fight ahead.’