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Scottish Conservative leader Davidson quits, citing Brexit and family

By Russell Cheyne

 

FILE PHOTO: Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives smiles during a television interview on the opening day of the Conservative Party Conference, in Manchester Britain, October 1, 2017. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

 

EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Ruth Davidson quit as leader of the Conservative Party in Scotland on Thursday, delivering a blow to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson after she led a resurgence for the party in Scotland during her eight years in charge.

 

Davidson, who provided a counterweight to Nicola Sturgeon's Scottish National Party and won key seats that kept the Conservatives in power, said she felt conflicted over Brexit and she wanted to put her family first for once.

 

The 40-year-old said it had been the "privilege of her life" to serve as leader and to have campaigned to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom in the independence referendum in 2014.

 

She said it had been no secret that she had felt conflicted over the result of the Brexit referendum two years later. She backed "Remain", as did the majority of Scottish voters.

 

"I believe two referenda have split Scotland and indeed opinion in the UK, and I am convinced that referenda should be used to affirm public opinion but not as a way for political leaders to fail to lead," she told reporters.

 

"Respect is what is missing from our debates, and without respect you cannot have understanding and you cannot unite, which is what we in Scotland and in the UK need to do."

 

Davidson's straight-talking manner and ribald sense of humour made her a favourite of moderate Conservatives but also popular far beyond the core Conservative electorate.

 

She had attempted to chart a course that recognised and respected the Brexit referendum result, she said, while seeking to mitigate risks for key Scottish businesses and sectors.

 

Davidson said Johnson had looked her in the eye and "categorically assured" her he was working to get a deal.

 

Johnson has said Britain will leave the European Union with or without a deal on Oct. 31, and on Wednesday he enraged opponents by limiting parliamentary time to halt no deal.

 

Johnson thanked Davidson, who gave birth to a son last year, for her "wonderful service".

 

"She has dedicated so much time and energy to the role and has been instrumental in the revival of our electoral fortunes in Scotland," he said.

 

Scotland's Conservative Party named Jackson Carlaw, 60, as interim leader. The former car salesman served before as interim leader while Davidson took several months' maternity leave and last year he described the prospect of a no-deal Brexit as "devastating for Britain".

 

Davidson, who said she intended to continue to represent Edinburgh Central in the Scottish parliament until elections in 2021, said she no longer had the appetite to fight campaigns.

 

"The threat of spending hundreds of hours away from my home and family now fills me with dread," said Davidson. "That is no way to lead.

 

"Additionally, I fear that having tried to be a good leader over the years, I have proved a poor daughter, sister, partner and friend."

 

(Writing by Paul Sandle; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Marguerita Choy)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-30

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[Rookiescot]

She will be missed.

Not by the Scots but by the UK media.

[stevenl]

Didn't know her well before, but her words on departure make sense.

Edited August 30, 2019 by stevenl

[RuamRudy]

Didn't know her well before, but her words on departure make sense.

She is a typical Tory. She wholeheartedly supported the following:


-The rape clause
-The bedroom tax
-£30 a week cut to disability benefits
-Tax cuts for the rich
-Scrapping housing benefit for young people
-The trade union bill
-Privatisation of the Royal Mail
-Hostile environment

She will not be missed.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Laughing Gravy]

I watched her speech. Interesting how Reuters head the title as she stated it was her family reasons first and her political difference second but as they are EU servants, there is no surprise.

[RuamRudy]

24 minutes ago, Laughing Gravy said:

I watched her speech. Interesting how Reuters head the title as she stated it was her family reasons first and her political difference second but as they are EU servants, there is no surprise.

Are you suggesting that the timing of her announcement, the day after the PM lied to the Queen and finally turned the UK into a banana republic, is coincidental? 

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, RuamRudy said:

Are you suggesting that the timing of her announcement, the day after the PM lied to the Queen and finally turned the UK into a banana republic, is coincidental? 

 

Did you make such irate comments when John Major also used the suspension of parliament tactic previously?

 

Boris and his avaricious ferret of an adviser think they've been awfully clever to remember John's little trick. 

 

Now we'll see how many MP's have the bottle to back democracy and throw this clown and his ERG cronies out of office.

[RuamRudy]

11 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Did you make such irate comments when John Major also used the suspension of parliament tactic previously?

 

Boris and his avaricious ferret of an adviser think they've been awfully clever to remember John's little trick. 

 

Now we'll see how many MP's have the bottle to back democracy and throw this clown and his ERG cronies out of office.

To be totally honest, when John Major was PM I was more preoccupied with the typically laddish hedonism that often comes when a 20-something has cash in his pocket for the first time. It was a long celebration. 

 

But was my comment irate? I don't think so - I certainly wasn't bashing the keyboard; rather, I was chuckling at the naivety of the suggestion that 'Scotland's next FM' was leaving for family reasons only.

 

 

[sungod]

30 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Now we'll see how many MP's have the bottle to back democracy and throw this clown and his ERG cronies out of office.

Democracy is following the referendum result, leave.

[Rimmer]

Off topic troll posts removed also replies

[RuamRudy]

I posted this yesterday on the previous Scottish Independence thread - shall copy here as relevant.

 

14 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

A very interesting comment from arch Unionist Sarah Smith of the BBC in the following article:

 

Does Ruth Davidson going make independence more likely?

 

"I realise that anecdotes are not evidence but I am struck by how frequently I hear people all over the country saying that they have now changed their minds and would vote for independence if there was another referendum."

 

She concludes 

 

"Without the dynamism and charisma of Ruth Davidson leading the campaign for the UK where will a future "Better Together" campaign get its energy from now the Scottish Labour Party is a mere shadow of its former self?"

[glenmohr]

17 minutes ago, sungod said:

Democracy is following the referendum result, leave.

For those finding it hard to cope with the looming disaster there is a help line please call this number without delay 0800 1914 1918 

[RuamRudy]

3 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

Are you suggesting that the timing of her announcement, the day after the PM lied to the Queen and finally turned the UK into a banana republic, is coincidental? 

I notice a couple of 'Confused' emojis on this post - I can only assume it is in relation to my suggestion that the PM lied to the queen.

 

This comment is based on the clip of Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, caught on camera and seemingly unaware of it, explaining that the real reason that parliament was prorogued was not because the PM had a bold new agenda to unveil in the Queen's Speech, but because the government recognised that it did not have a working majority in the house. Therefore, Mogg, who was representing the PM, must have lied to the Queen when he met with her to petition for proroguing. 

Edited August 30, 2019 by RuamRudy

[Mavideol]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Ruth Davidson quit as leader of the Conservative Party in Scotland on Thursday, delivering a blow to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson

she's the first of many jumping off the sinking boat.... (soon) more to come

[sammieuk1]

No one knows a Tory name these days until they resign ???? 

[natway09]

I really cannot blame her,

it has become a terrible mess & I see no light at the end of the tunnel yet

[Mavideol]

5 minutes ago, natway09 said:

I really cannot blame her,

it has become a terrible mess & I see no light at the end of the tunnel yet

hope your eyes can adapt to the darkness, the tunnel will became a little longer

[RuamRudy]

The results of yesterday's Shetland by-election for the Scottish Parliament make interesting reading, and possibly will shake Jo Swinburn's confidence a little.

 

Despite being a LibDem hold (the seat has only ever been LD), their share of the votes fell 20% on 2016, while the SNP came second with a rise of over 9% from the previous election.