Ruth Davidson: Tories must 'look again' at Brexit plan after election losses
2 min read
The Conservatives should “look again” at its plans for leaving the European Union in light of the general election result, Ruth Davidson has said.
The Scottish Conservative leader said her party had to “work with others” to define the new government’s policy on Brexit.
Theresa May made winning a larger mandate for the Conservatives’ Brexit plans a central element of her reasoning for calling a snap general election in April.
Despite seeing her majority disappear, Mrs May said yesterday she would form a new government to “provide certainty” and to “deliver on the will of the British people by taking the United Kingdom out of the European Union”.
But Ms Davidson, whose Scottish Tories won 13 MPs north of the border, said the party had to adapt its Brexit policy.
“I think what's really clear is that the Conservative party, having failed to win a majority, now needs to work with others,” she told the BBC.
“And that means we can look again at what it is we hope to achieve as we leave the European Union – and I want to be involved in those discussions."
She added to Sky News: “There’s an awful lot of issues surrounding Brexit that need to be discussed.
“Clearly there is no majority government that’s come through after this election and that means we do need to listen to other parties, it means we have to listen to other actors and agents and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
It is the second time in as many days that Ms Davidson has used her influence to set the agenda of the UK-wide Conservative party.
She revealed last night that she had sought a “categoric assurance” from Theresa May that she would press the DUP on its equalities record as part of the Conservative efforts to do a deal with the party.
Her comments on Brexit came at a photo call for the new intake of Scottish Tory MPs, where she said the group would “stand up for Scotland’s interests – and to show that those interests are best served by being part of the UK”.
“We will aim to deliver, not divide – and to show how the Union can work for all of us,” she added.
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