SCOTTISH Tory leader Ruth Davidson has said she hopes Boris Johnson will have a character transformation similar to Shakespeare's "young Prince Hal".

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival last night, she told the audience her favourite play was Henry V.

The Henriad series sees Prince Garry transform from an irresponsible wayward youth to a mature and disciplined king of England.

She said she can "only hope we will see that" of the Prime Minister.

Davidson – an English literature graduate – also acknowledged her differences of opinion with Johnson and asked people to judge the PM on his actions.

READ MORE: Tory minister caught 'red-handed' lying in attack on SNP

She said: "I'm a strong believer – and was taught in the Territorial Army – you salute the rank, not the person who wears it.

"The country does well if the prime minister does well, so I want him to do well.

"Any background we have is completely irrelevant to the national interest.

The National:

"I personally don't think No-Deal is in the national interest – that's why I'm arguing against it.

"Judge him on what he was like as a Prime Minister and I will judge on what he's like as a Prime Minister."

READ MORE: Boris Johnson says Brexit trade deal with Trump will boost haggis

 Davidson was at the festival to speak about her book Yes She Can: Why Women Own The Future, which includes interviews with "world-beating women".

In the New York Times Theatre event – chaired by Olympic gold medallist Katherine Grainger – she predicted a future where gender inequality was no longer the norm.

She added: "I absolutely see a position in the not too far away future where there's just no space for that level of misogyny and sexism."