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A brave move or political suicide?
The scottish tories have decided on [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Davidson ]Ruth Davidson[/url] as their leader
a political novice, openly gay, young, not tweedy at all.
I can't see her appealing to the core constituency much - but her appeal should be much wider than many politicians. Certainly in holyrood where the politicians are mainly very grey and bland and Salmond looks like a political giant it will be very interesting to see how she does.
Myself I think Annabel Goldie ( the previous incumbent) was a very able leader who played a weak hand well - and got shafted by her party.
So - a weird aberration or the new modern tories?
They could elect Silvio Berlesconi as their next leader. Wouldn't make any difference. The leader of the Scottish Tories is as relevant to the political discourse of this country as the Leader of the Weatherfield Traders Association
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In fact, they would potentially wield more power. Perhaps they've realised this and are just having a laugh. You're getting used as Guinea Pigs again Uncle Jezza. Its like the Poll Tax all over again
They can faff around as much as they like, but until they act like a Scottish party*, they'll be seen as representing English interests.
*as opposed to pretending to be.
When I was doing Jury service -after the summing up we were told to return to the jury room and to elect foreman to pole the other jury members and to deliver the verdict in the court.
Back in the jury room, after a long awkward silence I piped up with "so...... I suppose we better elect a foreman" and everyone else said - "well done - you're it"
Thats pretty much how Anabelle Goldie was 'elected', not because she stepped forward, she just didn't step backwards as fast as everyone else.
The Scottish Tories commited Political Suicide 20 years ago TJ; It was called the Poll Tax.
Isn't politics sickening. They know she will never have any power, so might as well score some points with the "young, openly gay, not tweedy" brigade. Bet they are wishing she is black. Cynical even for Tories.
cynical hels - cynical 🙂
I always felt scottish tories needed to be tweedy or have gravitas which is why Cameron does worse here than most tories as he is neither.
You never know - the tories might just confirm themselves as the third most popular party in Scotland 🙂
I always saw it as ironic that Holyrood - which was opposed by teh tories actually became their salvation as due to its proportional element they got some representation - at one point they had almost no representation in Scotland at all.
I have no idea how able Davidson will be as she has so little time in the public eye she is an unknown quantity
I liked Annabel Goldie, she did at least seem like an able politician (even if she stood for an unelectable party)
this Ruth Davidson though what can I say a total political novice with a voice that really rips my knitting. I would say I give her six months but given what an utter irrelevance the Scottish Tory party is she could hang in there for years and no-one would notice
If I understand right, they are more gays in Scotland than Tory voters, percentagewise. So she might increase their support.
like it SOG
slowoldgit - Member
If I understand right, they are more gays in Scotland than Tory voters, percentagewise. So she might increase their support.
To be fair there are more £3 notes floating about Scotland that Tory voters, so it dosnt really say much!!
They will never get anywhere up here, even less so with whats happening with Cameron and is multi millionair mates in Westminster.
Don't know anything about her, but it seems pretty depressing how much press attention her sexuality is getting. She's trying to lead a political party FFS.
Happens to all of them. Cameron has been slated for being an old Etonian.
Don't know why, isn't Etonia in the EU these days. 🙂
She claims to have been inspired by David Cameron (not her sexuality I assume) - that's not gonna go down to well with the average Scot.
is the fact she's gay of any relevance at all here?
It shouldn't be but it is. If there was one political party which was unlikely to elect a gay leader it was the tories. Is this a milestone for the scottish tories? could it see them transform themselves away from their reputation?is the fact she's gay of any relevance at all here?
NO. The reality is she was only elected because the "favourite" candidate dared to mention the elephant in the room. The Tories are toxic in Scotland and unelectable. Her predecessor showed that - despite being generally well liked, an astute politician and an articulate orator she failed to increase the party's popularity.
I follow Scottish politics more than the average person north of the border but can honestly say that before she threw her hat in the ring I had never heard of her, and wouldn't have recognised her picture. She's already shown her political niavity by offering the deputy leader role to the person she opposed when clearly they had diametrically opposed visions for the way forward. I'm pleased to see he declined, and I'm hoping he might try breaking away from the party with his vision for a Scottish soft-Right party that could maybe provide some credible opposition to the establishment - because the other opposition parties are still acting like jumped up councillors.
Heard a snippet on the news, was that her attacking Salmond repeatedly calling him 'too feart' to do something or other? Good grief is what I thought.
is the fact she's gay of any relevance at all here?
imagine having to come out and tell your parents.......................
you're a tory
emsz - Member
is the fact she's gay of any relevance at all here?
Irrelevant to this average Scot.
I did think it was clever of her to offer the deputy position to her opponent. She has effectively neutralised him. She's been outclassed so far, but she'll grow into the job. We can expect more from her.
More important to me is that she represents a party that is opposed to an independent Scotland so I could never vote for them.