Ruth Davidson: Tory party needs to man up

Where can Conservatives go if they’re looking to cheer themselves up at their rather nervous, doleful conference? A fringe with Ruth Davidson seems to be the answer. The Scottish Tory leader gave an interview to the Times in a totally packed room at the Midland Hotel this lunchtime, and it was clear that Tory members were there hoping to hear from a Conservative who is doing well and in good cheer.

There’s something about Davidson’s blunt approach to politics that Tory members seem to like. She tells them they’re in a miserable state and need to pull themselves together, and gives the impression that she’s already got it together – rather like the sports teacher who shouted at them a lot at school, or the army officer who turned up to take cadets. ‘I don’t think the party needs saving,’ she told the room. ‘I think it needs to get over its current nervous breakdown and man up a bit.