Ruth Davidson: The working class Scottish Tory leader tipped for the top of the party

As a popular and funny politician who hails from modest beginnings and is openly gay, Davidson has a broad appeal that could pave her way to the helm

Ruth Davidson's personal appeal is winning the Conservatives votes in Scotland (Getty)

Ruth Davidson stormed to victory in the elections overnight, taking the Edinburgh Central Seat from the hands of the SNP in the best ever Scottish Parliament result for the Tories.

The Scottish Conservative leader has promised to serve to the very best of her ability and "hold the SNP" to account as the leader of the main opposition to Nicola Sturgeon’s party.

Ms Davidson has long been tipped as a potential successor to David Cameron. A recent poll by Conservative Home found her to be more popular than any other Cabinet member in its league table, a result cemented by her success in the Holyrood election.

But in November, she insisted she had no designs on the Tory leadership. “Running a G7 country is not for faint hearted. I don't think I'm up to it, I don't want it and I don't want the impact that it would have on my life and all of the people that I love.”

Her ascent to the top

Ms Davidson has risen rapidly through the ranks of her party to lead it in Scotland. She was a ubiquitous presence during campaigns in 2015, with Ms Davidson appearing in virtually any photocall going, no matter how offbeat.

“When the nation is swooning over other leaders, you sometimes have to make more of an effort up here,” she told The Guardian. “So I may have been a slight photo tart when it came to the election.”

Background

Aged 37, she was the youngest ever party leader and has used her age in interviews to distance herself from the legacy set by Margaret Thatcher, who was in power while she was still a baby.

Ms Davidson's background differs greatly to those of the Etonians who overwhelmingly populate her party: she grew up in a working-class family, spending most of her adult life in Glasgow.

She worked as a BBC journalist and signaller in the Territorial Army (before becoming an Army Reservist) before going on to study at Glasgow University, eventually entering politics in 2009.

Sexuality

Like Ms Sturgeon and Mhairi Black, she is sharp, straight-talking, and interviews variously describe her as agreeable, convivial and funny. Like Ms Black and the Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, she is also openly gay and speaks publicly about her relationship with her partner, Jen Wilson. Her background, sexuality, and openness form part of her broad appeal and she has gone out of her way to present herself as the politician everyday people can relate to.

The self-described “tough old bird” has used her steely disposition and dedication to tackling abuse and homophobia to set herself apart from her peers.

“I do call out and will challenge or retweet or draw attention to it when people make homophobic remarks about me,” she once told the BBC, “because I've got a lot of young followers on Twitter, and I think they have to see that it is OK to say, 'That's not acceptable language. I do not have to accept this.'”

Beliefs

A practising Christian, she struggled with her sexuality for years before eventually deciding not to "live a lie".

“I thought I was destined for the big white wedding and the chap on my arm and all the rest of it, and then it wasn't to be,” she told BBC Radio Scotland’s Stark Talk. “I didn't come out until my mid twenties. I'd known for a few years before that.

“It took time for me to come to some sort of peace with myself about it. It's something I struggled with. I didn't want to be gay – I'm not sure how many people do, and it's been amazing the difference even in my lifetime how things have changed.”