FORMER Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has ordered the BBC not to refer to her by her future title of "Baroness", it has emerged.
The broadcaster’s Brian Taylor used the title during a report on the leadership change in the Scottish Tories last month, following Jackson Carlaw’s resignation.
Edinburgh Central MSP Davidson is said to have been “furious” over the description, complaining that the corporation should not use it.
According to The Herald, Davidson directly contacted Taylor insisting he should not use the word.
A Conservative source told the newspaper that the “Baroness” title is “not the image the Tories are going for in the lead up to the elections”.
They said: “As Ruth is effectively leading the Holyrood party now with Douglas [Ross] in Westminster, she does not want the fact she is going to be a member of the Lords influencing voters. It just adds to that stereotype of Conservatives that we’re trying to move away from.
“She’s clearly very sensitive about it.”
READ MORE: FMQs: Nicola Sturgeon has brilliant response to Ruth Davidson's hypocrisy
Meanwhile, a BBC source said: “Davidson was furious about being called Baroness and told the BBC as much. She complained and asked not to be referred to in that way again. She hasn't been called Baroness since.”
Since Davidson became the Scottish Tories group leader at Holyrood, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has used the MSP’s Tory peerage as an attack tool several times.
The Edinburgh Central MSP was given the peerage from Boris Johnson this summer. Davidson’s first FMQs performance saw her defend her decision to take the job-for-life at the unelected House of Lords.
The First Minister’s quips were shared widely online. Sturgeon told the Tory MSP: “In a few months, I will submit myself and my government to the verdict of the Scottish people in an election.
"That is the ultimate accountability for our record and our leadership.
"And as we do that. Ruth Davidson will be pulling on an ermine and going to the unelected House of Lords.
How to hand an actual “arse on plate” recipe provided by Nicola Sturgeon pic.twitter.com/GOg14OfFBE
— Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) August 12, 2020
“Can I gently suggest to Ruth Davidson, that when it comes to holding to account and scrutinising politicians, she's really not coming at this from a position of strength, because it is not me, who's running away from democratic accountability."
This week Sturgeon again used Davidson’s House of Lords seat against her, telling the Chamber: “She’s heading to an unelected parliament but has the brass neck to lecture the rest of us on scrutiny and accountability.
“There is no ermine cloak in the world that will cover up that hypocrisy.”
A source close to Davidson told The Herald she was just correcting an inaccurate report, given she will not officially become a Baroness until next year.
A spokesman for the Scottish Tories said: “Ruth Davidson is a Member of the Scottish Parliament and the leader of the Scottish Conservative group at Holyrood. She does not hold any other titles.”
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