Ruth Davidson is a journalist, broadcaster, author, and politician who served for eight years as leader of the Scottish Conservative Party. During her tenure, she revitalised the party, leading it to its best electoral performance in thirty-five years. She played a key role in the Scottish independence and EU referendum... Read more
Ruth Davidson is a journalist, broadcaster, author, and politician who served for eight years as leader of the Scottish Conservative Party. During her tenure, she revitalised the party, leading it to its best electoral performance in thirty-five years. She played a key role in the Scottish independence and EU referendum campaigns, arguing her case in live televised debates at the Glasgow Hydro and Wembley Arena. As the first openly gay leader of a major UK political party, and the first party leader to give birth while in office, Ruth has consistently broken barriers in public life.
A regular contributor to debates on gender, inclusion, and equality, Ruth speaks from personal experience about authentic leadership. A former BBC journalist and Territorial Army soldier, she understands the importance of individual expression, trust, and leadership development within large organisations. Her close professional relationships with successive Prime Ministers and her membership in the UK Cabinet provide her with a unique insight into the political landscape both north and south of the border.
Ruth’s book, Yes She Can – Why Women Own the Future, is a positive appraisal of gender advancement globally, highlighting how far women have come in achieving equality and the challenges that remain. It features thoughts, experiences and ideas from influential women such as Christine Lagarde, Dame Katherine Grainger, and Melinda French Gates, whom Ruth interviewed during her research.
Despite focusing on the Scottish Parliament, Ruth has built a UK-wide platform. A gifted political communicator with a modern, real-world touch, she is as comfortable appearing on Have I Got News for You, The One Show, and celebrity editions of The Chase and Bake Off as she is on Newsnight or Question Time. She was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of the year, alongside figures like New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Prince Harry.
Before entering politics, Ruth had a career in broadcast journalism, working as a presenter, producer, and documentary maker. Since stepping down as party leader, she has returned to journalism, providing political commentary for the Telegraph, Mail on Sunday, and the Evening Standard, and developing broadcast projects for television and radio. She hosts a weekly show on Times Radio and co-hosts Sky’s Electoral Dysfunction podcast alongside Beth Rigby and Jess Phillips.