RUTH Davidson has hinted she could stand as an MP in a bid to make the switch from Holyrood to Westminster.

The Scottish Tory leader suggested “conversations” could take place after the next Scottish Parliament elections in 2021 – but she insisted she would only stand for a Scottish seat and not in a safe Conservative constituency in England.

Such a prospect would depend on the Holyrood election results, with Davidson having publicly set her sights on becoming Scotland’s next First Minister. But her comments, in an article in The Spectator magazine, come amid continuing speculation that she could be a future leader of the UK Conservatives.

Davidson said that by the time of the next Holyrood elections, she would have been in charge of the party for “significantly longer” than the two previous Tory leaders, and said: “Then we can start other conversations.”

Asked if those would include conversations about her moving to Westminster, she said: “I haven’t ruled it out. If devolution is going to work, then actually there has to be the ability to move between chambers and parliaments.”

Pressed on if she would only stand for a Scottish seat, Davidson replied: “Yes.”

A Scottish Tory spokesman said: “Ruth’s only focus is on winning the 2021 Scottish election. Scotland needs a change after 10 years of the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives intend to provide it.”