Openly-gay MSP Ruth Davidson has been named the new leader of the Scottish Conservative party.
As reported on PinkPaper.com earlier this afternoon, more than 8,000 Scottish party members have spent the last few weeks voting for one of four candidates by post.
MSPs Jackson Carlaw, Murdo
Fraser and Margaret Mitchell were the other candidates who hoped to beat Davidson in the race to replace Annabel
Goldie.
Murdo Fraser was tipped to win, but news of Davidson's success will delight the party's lesbian and gay group, LGBTory.
According to STV, leader of the Labour party, Iain Gray MSP, said: "I congratulate Ruth on
her achievement. She only recently became an MSP but now she is the new
face of the Tories in Scotland.
"Following in Annabel Goldie's footsteps will be a big task but she has
shown a lot of energy and drive to win her party's election. While I
disagree with her fundamentally on politics I look forward to the
contribution she will make to the Scottish Parliament."
Elected in May this year, Davidson – who was a guest at David
Cameron's LGBT Downing Street reception, last summer – became the
Conservative Party's first openly-lesbian Member of the
Scottish Parliament.