Tory leader’s joy as partner Jen agrees to tie the knot
Slight hitch on romantic Paris trip
THE setting could not have been more romantic – Paris sparkled in the late spring sunshine as Ruth Davidson turned to Jen Wilson and popped the question.
But, as she slipped the diamond on her new fiancee’s finger, Miss Davidson’s hopes of springing the perfect surprise would suffer the same blow as so many before her when it became clear the engagement ring did not fit.
Despite this minor setback, the 37-year-old MSP proudly announced the couple’s engagement on Twitter and posted a picture of the precious ring.
She tweeted: ‘So, I’ve been away for a few days as I had an important question to ask. Delighted Jen said yes. Very happy.’
It is understood the politician proposed to Irish-born Miss Wilson, a marketing assistant with a green energy charity, on the 56th floor of their Paris hotel against the panoramic
‘They are both still all smiles after the trip’
backdrop of the French capital and views looking towards the Eiffel Tower.
The engagement was said to have been ‘very romantic’ according to close friends, although Miss Davidson divulged that the couple had flown with budget airline EasyJet.
Even delays on the flight from Edinburgh to Paris Charles de Gaulle did not spoil the mood for the MSP, who tweeted her thanks to the friendly crew. One friend revealed: ‘The ring was a bit too big for Jen so she is having to wear it on a chain around her neck for safekeeping until it can be re-sized. But they are both still all smiles after the trip.
‘They are a smashing couple and everybody will be wishing them the best. Jen has got a cracking sense of humour and is very grounded and they have always made it a priority to get away from politics from time to time. They are most definitely not a politically geeky couple.’
The happy news comes in what has already been a celebratory month for the politician, after she led her party to its best election result in Scotland for almost 60 years, pushing Labour into third place behind the Conservatives.
The engagement prompted a flood of congratulatory messages, with David Cameron leading the way.
‘Many congratulations to @RuthDavidsonMSP and Jen on their engagement. I’m delighted for them,’ he tweeted.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, who recently revealed she has a female partner, tweeted: ‘Massive congratulations to you both from Louise and I.’
Beyond politics, Harry Potter author JK Rowling was among the first to post on Twitter, tweeting: ‘Congrats, Ruth!’ Miss Davidson later replied: ‘@jk_rowling thanks Jo. We are ridiculously chuffed. X’
TV host Lorraine Kelly offered her ‘Big congrats’, while singer Michelle McManus tweeted: ‘Awww my dear I’m so happy for you both! Many many congrats.’ Miss Davidson immediately fired back: ‘@LadyM_ McManus thanks Michelle – now, do you take bookings? Xxx’
Arrangements for the wedding are thought to be in the very early stages, but Miss Davidson has previously stated she would love to marry her 34-year-old fiancée in her native country after Ireland voted overwhelmingly last year to legalise gay marriage.
Campaigning for a ‘Yes’ vote in that referendum, the couple gave a joint radio interview in which Miss Wilson disclosed how she felt forced to leave Wexford in the south-east of the Republic in 2003 because social attitudes meant ‘I just never really felt I could be completely myself ’.
The Scottish Tory leader has previously admitted that when she was younger she assumed she would have a ‘big white wedding and the chap on my arm’.
She has said she struggled to ‘come to some sort of peace’ with herself about her sexuality but learned to trust herself rather than living ‘a lie’.