RUTH Davidson admitted yesterday that getting her support in the Tory party leadership contest was the kiss of death for candidates.

The MSP had initially backed Sajid Javid but switched allegiance to Michael Gove when the Home Secretary was knocked out of the contest in the third ballot on Thursday morning.

Hours later Gove was out.

READ MORE: Ruth Davidson makes U-turn on Boris Johnson for prime minister

“Sorry, @michaelgove,” she tweeted, adding the hashtag #kissofdeath.

The SNP said Davidson was “cursed”.

The party’s depute leader Keith Brown tweeted: “Looks like R Davidson’s pick is the kiss of death. Vote to send a message re Indyref2, less than 12% vote Tory. Vote to save the Union, Tory Members say, we prefer Brexit. Vote for Saj, he loses, vote for M Gove, he loses. Who next for the Davidson Death kiss? Watch out Jeremy!”

Prominent Boris Johnson supporter Ross Thomson was ecstatic at the result.

The Aberdeen South MP tweeted: “@BorisJohnson has won over 50% of MPs in an incredible result. Looking forward to the campaign over the next few weeks. Boris is the only candidate that can deliver Brexit, make us believe in ourselves and our potential as a country again and unite our society. @BackBoris.”

His Scottish Tory colleague, John Lamont tweeted: “Boom I’m delighted for @Jeremy_Hunt A great result! #HastobeHunt”

Outside the Tory party there was some dismay.

Professor Anand Menon, director of the UK in a Changing Europe Initiative, tweeted: “So we have the guy who compared the EU to the Soviet Union versus the guy who compared it to Nazi Germany.”

Labour’s national campaigns co-ordinator Andrew Gwynne said: “What a choice: the man who broke the NHS or the man who wants to sell it to Donald Trump.

“A handful of unrepresentative Conservative members should not be choosing our next prime minister. People should decide through a general election.”

The SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford MP said the “toxic Tory leadership contest” had “confirmed beyond doubt that the threat to Scotland is growing as the Tories lurch further to the extremes.”

He added: “The selection of Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt is yet another sign that the Tory party is intent on pushing Scotland and the UK towards the Brexit abyss”.