Ross is boss in Tory team
Ex-leader agrees to stand in at Holyrood
Ruth Davidson has insisted “Douglas Ross is my boss” after agreeing to face down Nicola Sturgeon for him at Holyrood.
Moray MP Ross yesterday launched a bid to succeed Jackson Carlaw as leader of the Scottish Conservatives – but he will not be able to appear in the Scottish Parliament without becoming an MSP.
Instead, former leader Davidson, who remains a hugely influential figure, has agreed to take on the role of grilling Sturgeon at First Minister’s Questions (FMQs) should Ross win.
But she quashed speculation she would undermine the part- time football referee’s position.
Davidson said: “It was a big decision to step back in but, let’s be very clear about this, I am not coming back as leader of the Scottish Conservative Party.
“I’m very happy, proud, excited to call Douglas Ross my boss. He has asked me to do a job of work for him in the Scottish Parliament and I am keen and happy to do that for him.
“Thi s i s an important election and it needs good people to step up. It is clear that Douglas wanted to have someone who will take on Nicola Sturgeon at FMQs. At 41, I don’tdont wantwan to think of myself as a grey beard but at least a safe pair of hands.
“There is precedentpreced for this. Alex Salmond spent three years at Wes tmins ter wwi th Nicola Sturgeon taking FMQsFM for him.” Davidson joined the former Scotland Office miniminister yesterday as he launched his leleadership bid in Aberdeen.
Ross has pledged to make the Tories a “strong opposition”oppo to the SNP, and will fightfig for a Holyroodrood seat ata next year’s electioelection should he be appoappointed.
TThere are no othother candidates so far and the fact Ross has Davidson’s backing is likely to put off potential rivals.
Carlaw resigned on Thursday after only six months in the job and many in the party would have wanted to see a Davidson comeback.
But the Edinburgh Central MSP, who will take up a role in the House of Lords next year, made clear she has no intention of taking back control.
She added: “I cannot say I was planning on going back to tackle Nicola Sturgeon at FMQs but that is what Douglas has asked me to do if he is elected leader.
“Like the dozens of centre forwards that he had flagged offside down the years, I soon realised that challenging him, I was never going to win.
“I’m excited because I believe that Doug las i s going to set out something new.
“It’s not something I could have done – it is to become Scotland’s first genuinely post-referendum political leader.”
Ross has reached the 100-nomination threshold required by Tory party rules to seek the top job.
Anyone wishing to stand against him will have to do the same by midnight on Wednesday.
Ross, who gives his reasons for pursuing the top job in an exclusive article for the Sunday Mail today, has revealed he will not give up refereeing if he is appointed leader.
He’s asked me to do a job of work for him in the Scottish Parliament