WATCH: Ruth Davidson announces she is pregnant with her first child
2 min read
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has announced she is 13 weeks pregnant with her first child.
Ms Davidson said she and her partner Jen Wilson were “excited and daunted” at the prospect of the baby arriving in late autumn.
The Edinburgh Central MSP - tipped as a future UK Tory leader - said her MSP colleague Jackson Carlaw will cover for her at Holyrood until she returns from maternity leave next spring.
"Jen and I are delighted to announce that I am expecting our first child in the late autumn," she said.
"Like all new parents-to-be, we are excited - and daunted - about the months to come. Mostly we are just overjoyed at the prospect of starting a family together.
"While the news may be unexpected for many people, let me reassure my constituents and voters across Scotland that there is no change to my political commitment or plans to lead the Scottish Conservatives into the 2021 Holyrood elections.
"I'm simply doing what thousands of working women do every year - having a child, taking some time off, and then returning to work soon after.
"In the meantime, it's business as usual…"
Ms Davidson and Ms Wilson have been engaged since 2016, but put the wedding on hold after their dog, Wilson, was run over by a car.
"Jen and I are incredibly lucky in the support we have received from our family and friends over the past few months," she added.
"We know we can rely on them in the months and years to come. I'd like to thank them all again today.
"We have always dreamed of starting a family and are so pleased to be able to share our happy news."
Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon were among those to offer their congratulations to Ms Davidson following the news.
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