Conservatives elect new leader

RUTH Davidson has been elected the new Scottish Tories leader following a ballot of 8,000 party members.

The 32-year old former BBC journalist was the only of four candidates to made it all the way up to Shetland to speak to local party members during the leadership campaign.

When in the isles in October during a brief visit she said she was looking for a “generational change” within the Scottish party, and wanted to overhaul out of date structures.

Local party chairman Maurice Mullay said: “During Ruth’s recent visit, Shetland Conservative Association were impressed with her knowledge, personality and keen interest in local issues and look forward to working closely with her in formulating policies for rural and island communities and taking the Scottish Conservatives forward.”

The Glasgow list MSP, elected to the parliament only this year, won the contest with 2,983 ahead of favourite Murdo Fraser (2,417 votes).