Ruth Davidson named Politician of the Year

Ruth Davidson taking part in the EU referendum debate - BBC screengrab

Ruth Davidson has been named Politician of the Year for reviving the fortunes of the Conservative Party in Scotland.

Davidson won the Herald Scotland award last after she led the Scottish Conservatives to their best ever result at the Holyrood election in May.

She beat First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Deputy First Minister John Swinney, who had also been shortlisted for the top award.

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In her acceptance speech, Davidson quipped: "What can I say, it's been an extraordinary year for me personally.

“First, the election result in May. Second, my wonderful girlfriend agreed to be my wife. Third, I came second in a Kim Jong-un lookalike competition.”

The Scottish Tory leader was also named Donald Dewar Debater of the Year for her performances in the Scottish Parliament and during the EU referendum.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Fergus Ewing gained the Politics in Business Award, while former Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont became E-politician of the Year for her tweeting.

Public Campaigner of the Year went to the No to Named Persons (NO2NP) campaign.

Also nominated in that category were Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) which is raising awareness of homophobic bullying and SANDS Lothian.

Best Scot at Westminster was given to David Mundell, while new Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh Western Alex Cole Hamilton was named the One to Watch.

Mary Scanlon was named Committee MSP of the Year and Jackie Baillie Community MSP of the Year.

Labour leader of Renfrewshire Council Mark Macmillan was awarded Local Politician of the Year.

Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell of Pittenweem was given a Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to politics over the last 40 years.

Earlier this week Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale was named Member of the Year at the LGBT Pink News awards in London.