RUTH Davidson has attacked the “Tory psychodrama” of speculation over Theresa May’s leadership, telling party members she has no plans to move to London.
The Scottish Conservative leader, who apparently has support within the party as a potential rival to Boris Johnson in any contest to replace May, insisted she was “not standing” for the role.
Her comments came as Scottish Secretary David Mundell mocked Foreign Secretary Johnson’s lack of electoral appeal in Scotland.
At a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Davidson was asked to rule out standing as leader of the UK party and was pushed on whether the Prime Minister should be prepared to sack Johnson over his interventions on Brexit.
“I’m not standing to be the leader of the party,” Davidson said.
“I don’t sit in the House of Commons. Let’s get back to why we are here – to talk about the real issues and not about the Tory psychodrama.”
The revival of the Scottish Tories under Davidson’s leadership has made her a popular figure with the UK party, and activists queued to get into the fringe event.
In her conference speech in the half-empty main hall, she later expressed her love for London but said: “I have no plans to move there myself, but it’s great to visit.”
She also called on members to be united behind May, and not to worry too much about Jeremy Corbyn.
“Commentators, who should know better, declaring Jeremy Corbyn as a shoo-in to No 10, just because Glastonbury chanted his name to the White Stripes. Folks, he hasn’t even won a raffle.”
Davidson, who received a standing ovation either side of her speech, said: “I have watched as Nicola Sturgeon sold out rock venues, as she released a line of signature clothing, as she sold foam fingers to the faithful so they could point at the sky as she flew in a helicopter she’d slapped her face on.”
She went on: “Politics is not for faint hearts. It’s not about what’s in fashion.”
Party grandee Lord Heseltine earlier used a Sky News interview to praise Davidson and attack Johnson, while former minister Edwina Currie stood up at the fringe event and urged the Scottish leadership to “take over Conservative Central Office”.
Asked about Johnson’s potential appeal to young voters, Scottish Secretary Mundell poked fun at his fellow Cabinet minister, saying: “I’m sure none of my colleagues indulge in hypothetical questions, although I do recall Boris Johnson once stood for rector of Edinburgh University and you can look at the result of that.”
In the 2006 vote, Johnson finished third.
Davidson said the Scottish party was in “great heart” after boosting the number of Tory MPs from one to 13 at the General Election election.
Mundell also said it was the Tory success in Scotland that ensured “Jeremy Corbyn is not prime minister right now”.
SNP MSP Joan McAlpine said: “Given the nature of Ruth Davidson’s speech this afternoon, we now expect her to stand up to Theresa May and get behind our efforts to bring more powers to Holyrood after Brexit.
“David Mundell previously promised a powers ‘bonanza’ for Scotland, so let’s see some progress made on that promise with real action.”
She added: “And if Ruth Davidson is sincere about helping our economy, she should focus on seeing off the risk of a hard Brexit. Despite what the Tories claim, Scotland’s economy is growing nearly four times faster under the SNP than the UK’s under the Tories – and the real threat to Scottish jobs and industries comes from the Tories’ own hard Brexit proposals.
“We look forward to Ruth Davidson supporting our efforts to give Scotland not just office space, but the powers to make a difference and protect our economy in the wake of a disastrous Tory Brexit.”
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