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Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson to switch to Lothians | Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson to switch to Lothians |
(about 9 hours later) | |
The leader of the Scottish Tories has announced she will seek to become an MSP for the Lothians region at next year's Holyrood elections. | The leader of the Scottish Tories has announced she will seek to become an MSP for the Lothians region at next year's Holyrood elections. |
Ruth Davidson currently represents Glasgow as a list MSP. | Ruth Davidson currently represents Glasgow as a list MSP. |
Ms Davidson was born in Edinburgh and went to university in the city. She has recently moved home to the capital. | Ms Davidson was born in Edinburgh and went to university in the city. She has recently moved home to the capital. |
In a letter to party members in Glasgow, she said her duties as party leader required her to spend an increasing amount of time in Edinburgh. | In a letter to party members in Glasgow, she said her duties as party leader required her to spend an increasing amount of time in Edinburgh. |
She said that standing in the Lothians would maximise the time she would be able to devote to her duties in the capital. | She said that standing in the Lothians would maximise the time she would be able to devote to her duties in the capital. |
The Scottish Conservative said Ms Davidson would now go through the same process as other prospective MSP candidates seeking to contest a seat in the capital and find a place on the Lothians list. | The Scottish Conservative said Ms Davidson would now go through the same process as other prospective MSP candidates seeking to contest a seat in the capital and find a place on the Lothians list. |
Ms Davidson, who only became an MSP in 2011, said: "It has been an enormous privilege to serve as an MSP in Glasgow over the last four years. | Ms Davidson, who only became an MSP in 2011, said: "It has been an enormous privilege to serve as an MSP in Glasgow over the last four years. |
"My role as an MSP in Glasgow has allowed me to help hundreds of constituents, visit scores of businesses, charities and schools and play a large part in the civic life of the city. | "My role as an MSP in Glasgow has allowed me to help hundreds of constituents, visit scores of businesses, charities and schools and play a large part in the civic life of the city. |
"For the elections next year, I will be putting my name forward to stand as a candidate in the Lothians region." | "For the elections next year, I will be putting my name forward to stand as a candidate in the Lothians region." |
Analysis by Andrew Black, BBC Scotland reporter | |
Ruth Davidson has been an MSP on the Glasgow regional list for four years, but instead of seeking re-election in the city, she's decided to try her hand on the political scene over in Edinburgh. | |
Ms Davidson says she has a lifelong connection to the city - having been born in the capital and studied there - but it's not quite as simple as that. | |
Voters have historically returned a Tory MSP on the Glasgow list through PR voting, so the Conservatives are hoping they'll have that in the bag for the 2016 Holyrood election, with a new candidate. | |
Meanwhile, Ms Davidson wants to stand for election on the Lothian regional list - and in an Edinburgh first-past-the-post constituency - in the hope her profile as Scottish Conservative leader will win her party an additional seat. | |
But the big challenge the Conservatives face - along with the other opposition parties - is losing more ground to the SNP, especially given its victory in the Westminster election. | |
Ruth Davidson says she'll now go through the same selection process as everyone else who wants to stand as a Conservative candidate in Edinburgh - although in her case, that's likely to be more of a formality. |
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