Forget the budget, immigration and the EU, student reporter Megan Kerr, 16, asks our politicians the questions no one else dares to pose as part of a light-hearted series.
Today: Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson
1. If you were a superhero, what kind of powers would you have?
“I’m always running around all over the place, so flying would be a good superpower for me. That and being able to eat what I like without putting on weight. Sadly, that’s a superpower I definitely don’t have.”
2.How do you think your peers would describe you?
“Hard working, professional, driven, committed and – hopefully – also a good laugh.”
3.What would a perfect relaxing afternoon be to you?
“Relaxing on the sofa watching an old movie or reading a book. A hot bath, someone else cooking my dinner for me and a chilled glass of white wine. Bliss.”
4.If you weren’t a politician, what would you be doing?
“Well, I was a journalist for 10 years before getting elected, which I enjoyed, so if the politics bug hadn’t bitten, I’m sure I would have stayed at the BBC. My secret dream for after politics, however, is to make furniture. Lovely hand-made wood and leather chairs – I’ve always been quite practical and good with my hands, and I’ve already sketched a couple of the designs.”
5.If you could have lunch with any past or present political leader, who would it be and why?
“Mikhail Gorbachev. He lived through – and helped shape – the most remarkable changes in world politics. The fall of communism, the end of the Cold War, the way in which different nations interacted with each other – I think he would be fascinating company.”
6.Apart from David Cameron, if you had to go to a haunted house with one of the party leaders from the May election, who would you pick and why?
“Ed Miliband – the ghost of Labour past…”
7.Where do you see Scotland in 5 years?
“Well at the moment, our children’s educational performance is getting poorer, our NHS is so stretched the SNP Government is reduced to lowering targets (and still missing them) and the new single police force is a shambles – so I hope in five years time Scotland is back on the up with improvements across all our public services. I want us to be the most dynamic nation in northern Europe.”
8.How important is it that voting age is lowered to 16?
“I support votes at 16, but wherever the age-limit is set, the most important thing is that all voters feel engaged, are able to ask questions of their elected leaders and feel that there vote is informed.”
9.Is it bad for Scotland if the UK government moves towards English votes for English laws?
“It will make literally no difference to Scotland. The whole point is that there are some laws that affect only Wales and are decided in the Welsh Assembly, affect only Northern Ireland and are decided in Stormont or affect only Scotland and are decided in Holyrood – but there’s no English parliament so some laws which apply only to England are decided in the Commons instead.
“English votes for English laws is designed to make sure that England’s representatives decide laws which apply only to England, in the same way MSPs decide laws that apply only to Scotland. It’s simply about fairness.”
10.The recent statistics on literacy made for worrying reading. What would you say was behind the fall and what would you say to parents who were concerned about standards in Scottish schools?
“I think there are some great schools out there, and great teachers who inspire classrooms of our young people.
“But I think they struggle from not having enough freedom, and parents are frustrated through not having enough choice. All children are different – they don’t all learn the same and they shouldn’t all be taught the same.”
