Blow for Boris Johnson as Ruth Davidson set to quit as Scottish Tory leader
The party says the decision is "not connected" to the PM suspending parliament - but Ms Davidson has clashed with him in the past.
Thursday 29 August 2019 14:03, UK
Ruth Davidson is set to quit as leader of the Scottish Conservatives, according to Sky sources.
The shock move, expected to be confirmed in a statement on Thursday, comes in the wake of Boris Johnson suspending parliament.
The prime minister has insisted this is so he can unveil a "new legislative programme", but his critics say it is an attempt to stop MPs from blocking a no-deal Brexit.
Reports say two reasons have driven her decision: a desire to spend more time with her young son and differences with the PM over Brexit.
A Scottish Conservatives spokesman said: "Ruth will make her position clear in due course.
"There will be no further comment tonight."
They added: "This decision is not connected to today's Brexit developments in any way."
Ms Davidson, who has been leader of the Scottish Tories since 2011, is opposed to a no-deal divorce with the EU.
She backed Mr Johnson's rival, Jeremy Hunt, in this summer's leadership contest, having initially given her support to Sajid Javid.
During the 2016 referendum Ms Davidson campaigned for Remain, going up against the Leave-supporting Mr Johnson in a televised debate.
She and partner Jen Wilson welcomed a son, Finn, in October after Ms Davidson underwent IVF treatment.
She stepped back from frontline politics to go on maternity leave.
Ms Davidson made her comeback speech at the Scottish Conservative conference in Aberdeen in May.
After Mr Johnson became PM, Ms Davidson lobbied to keep David Mundell - who she had previously described as her "work husband" - as Scottish secretary, only for him to be sacked.
Ms Davidson has revived the fortunes of the party in Scotland, taking the Tories from just one MP north of the border to 13 at the 2017 election.
That strong performance helped keep Theresa May in Downing Street.
Under Ms Davidson, the party won a record 31 seats in the 2016 Holyrood election, beating Labour into second place behind the SNP.
A Tory source in Scotland told Sky's political editor Beth Rigby that Ms Davidson had been a "massive asset to the party" and had "turned around our fortunes".
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said the news was a "real blow to her party".
The Labour MSP added: "This shows that even within his own ranks, Boris Johnson is already losing support and credibility."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "It's no surprise Ruth Davidson has run out of reasons to stand by this dangerous and power hungry prime minister.
"There must be lots of other like-minded Conservatives who are horrified at this blatant abuse of power and can't stomach being party to this destructive agenda any longer.
"They should take this as the signal to abandon ship."