Ruth Davidson fears Britain 'won't bounce back from Brexit hit'
The Scottish Tory leader believes the Government didn't prepare the public for the realities of negotiating the UK's EU departure.
Thursday 7 September 2017 09:10, UK
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has expressed her fear Britain won't recover after an "economic hit" from Brexit.
In comments putting her at odds with Downing Street, Ms Davidson also criticised the UK Government for failing to prepare the British public for the realities of divorce negotiations with the EU.
During the EU referendum campaign, Ms Davidson was a staunch Remain supporter and famously clashed with Vote Leave figurehead Boris Johnson in a TV debate.
In an interview with the New Statesman, the MSP conceded Brexit "is going to happen" but warned of the possible effect of the UK's departure from the EU.
"My real fear is that if there's a short-term economic hit, we don't bounce back from it," she said.
Last week, Brexit Secretary David Davis and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier shared a tense news conference in Brussels following the latest round of talks.
Ms Davidson regretted how the UK Government failed to "pitch-roll" the start of negotiations.
"I don't think the country was prepared for this period that we're currently in," she said.
"People in a room talking and then walking out and up to a bank of microphones and saying entirely different things while standing next to each other is part of what negotiation is."
Ms Davidson has been regularly touted as a future Conservative leader - and perhaps Prime Minister - should she move from Edinburgh down to Westminster.
But Ms Davidson spoke of her aim to replace Nicola Sturgeon as Scotland's First Minister in 2021.
And - despite her fears over Brexit - she praised current party leader Theresa May as "absolutely straight down the line" and "not a game player".
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "What we are working hard on is making sure we deliver the smoothest possible Brexit that delivers certainty for business and we get a trade deal that works for Britain and the EU, and we are confident of doing so."