Ruth Davidson calls for 'open Brexit' after successful Scotland campaign
SCOTS Tory leader Ruth Davidson put herself on collision course with Eurosceptics today as she called for an “open Brexit” in the wake of its election setback south of the Border.
Ruth Davidson has called for an 'open Brexit' after a successful Scotland campaign
Ms Davidson flexed her muscles as she was lauded for leading her party to its best result in three decades, winning 13 seats.
By contrast Theresa May came under fire after her snap poll gamble “backfired” with the wipe out of the party’s Commons majority.
Ms Davidson’s successful campaign, coming after pushing Labour into third place in last year’s Holyrood election, again fueled speculation her future may lie at Westminster.
The Edinburgh Central MSP has been tipped as a future Cabinet minister and even potential future Prime Minister.
Ms Davidson today ruled out challenging for the UK leadership as she insisted she is “100 per cent” behind Mrs May.
But she said that the UK party must “listen to voters” who did not give it the mandate it sought and appeared to take a softer stance over the single market after not mentioning it directly.
Ms Davidson was lauded for leading her party to its best result in three decades
Ruth Davidson accuses Sturgeon of 'trying to hijack Brexit'
Mrs May has indicated a hardline approach over EU divorce talks, making it clear she walk away from a bad deal offered by the bloc.
The truth is that we are still the only UK party with a plan for Britain
Bur Ms Davidson: “It is incumbent on us to listen to other parties in Parliament, and people outside it, about the best way forward.
“It is the policy of both the Conservative Party and the UK Labour Party to respect the Brexit referendum result.
“That means we are leaving the European Union. We must leave the Common Fisheries Policy.
“At the same time we must in my view seek to deliver an open Brexit, not a closed one, which puts our country’s economic growth first.
Ms Davidson has spoken of her ambition to challenge Nicola Sturgeon for the First Minister’s job
“I am confident that, once the dust settles on last night’s result, we can rise to that challenge.
“The truth is that we are still the only UK party with a plan for Britain.”
Ms Davidson campaigned for Remain and has previously argued Britain should seek access to the single market even if it has to accept free movement.
But more recently backed the UK Government position amid Nicola Sturgeon’s indepedence threats which could damage trade with the UK, if Scotland alone stayed in.
A source close to Ms Davidson insisted that there are “no plans” for her to become an MP so she can make a bid for the leadership.
It came after a number of Tory MPs privately pushed for her to consider a move to Westminster to save the party.
Addressing her party’s conference in Glasgow earlier this year Ms Davidson set out her ambition to challenge Nicola Sturgeon for the First Minister’s job in 2021.
Ms Davidson today ruled out challenging for the UK leadership
Meanwhile, Ms Davidson appeared to distance herself from Mrs May’s deal to be propped by the DUP by tweeting a link to the same-sex marriage lecture she gave at Amnesty ‘s Pride lecture in Belfast last year.
She is engaged to Jen Wilson, an Irish Catholic, who campaigned during the Republic’s referendum on the issue.
Her views could not be further from those of the DUP, a staunch opponent of same-sex marriage and supporter of the “traditional” definition of marriage.