RUTH Davidson has refused to rule out abandoning Holyrood to seek to become UK Tory leader one day, by saying she is only focused on the Scottish Parliament “at the moment” and that she's not looking past the 2021 elections.
Asked if a Scot could be Tory leader and Prime Minister, she said: “Absolutely, without a doubt.”
She added: “Look, I’ve got a job at the moment. I am not looking past 2021. I’m trying to build up a party that was third, in some case fourth, when I became leader, to build it up to be a credible government of Scotland.
“I’ve come a long way in that. I’ve got a long way still to go. I’ve built a really good team that I’m immensely proud of. I know what my job is, and this is my job right now. But I’m looking to 2021 and I’m not looking past it, because there’s quite a few things in the in-tray.”
Davidson said that there had been some "unfortunate shenanigans" in the party "but the pushback has been pretty strong" against those trying to force a leadership contest.
She hit out at colleagues engaged in "tittle-tattle", adding that being a politician is "about delivering for the country, it's not and should never be about private ambition" - comments likely to be viewed as a swipe at Mr Johnson.
Davidson told the Andrew Marr Show that the Foreign Secretary had backed the Prime Minister's Florence speech on Brexit and May should "hold him to that".
"He is a big intellect, a big figure in the party and if the Prime Minister believes he is the right person to be Foreign Secretary then she has my full support," she said.
Davidson later voiced her "full support" for the Prime Minister. She told ITV's Peston on Sunday: "I think calling it a coup is perhaps flattering Mr Shapps a little bit."
Asked if May would lead the Tory party into the next general election, she said: "Well she'd have my support if she did, because I supported her in the leadership, I support her now and I'll support her in the future."
She added: "I think she's the best prime minister that we've got and she has my full support. I'm actually getting a bit narked and I'm sure there's quite a lot of women out there that are [getting] a bit narked at how many male commentators are talking about male cabinet ministers deciding what she should or shouldn't do as if she has no agency in this herself.
"Goddammit she's the prime minister of a G7 country, she didn't get there by luck or by default. She has got grit, determination, dignity, she believes in service and diligence and she absolutely has my support."
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