Ruth Davidson named Scottish politician of the year for the second time

Ruth Davidson - Image credit: David Anderson/Holyrood

Ruth Davidson has been named Scottish politician of the year for the second year in a row at The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year awards.

The Scottish Conservative leader has been credited with reviving the Tories’ fortunes in Scotland after becoming the second biggest party in the Scottish Parliament last year.

Under her leadership the Conservatives also increased the number of councillors and Scottish Conservative MPs at the local and general elections this year.

Davidson won a second award in the E-Politician category, for her use of social media to reach new audiences.

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She was up against Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie and SNP Brexit minister Mike Russell for the title of Scottish Politician of the Year, while fellow Conservative Murdo Fraser and SNP MP Stewart McDonald were shortlisted in the social media category.

Former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale was also recognised at the awards, winning Donald Dewar Debater of the Year for her heartfelt attacks on the rape clause.

Also recognised was work in fighting the rape clause was SNP MP Alison Thewliss, who was named Best Scot at Westminster.

The Public Campaigner of the Year Award went to Amanda Kopel for her campaign for Frank’s Law, which would see under-65s diagnosed with serious illnesses such as dementia become eligible for free social care – something the Scottish Government has promised to enact in its programme for government.

Aberdeen City Council co-leader Jenny Laing, who defied her own party to form a coalition with the Conservatives, took away the Scottish Local Politician of the Year award.

Committee MSP of the Year went to the SNP’s Alex Neil, Murdo Fraser won the Politics in Business Award, Green MSP Andy Wightman became Community Politician of the Year and Labour’s Monica Lennon was named One to Watch.

Accepting the Scottish Politician of the Year award at Edinburgh’s Prestonfield Hotel, Davidson said: “I’m very grateful for this award tonight.

“I accept it as the team captain of a side that has outperformed all expectations in the last 18 months.

“I’m incredibly proud of the team that I’ve been building in Holyrood and I’m now building in Westminster, along with local authorities across the country – this award is very much for them.”