Ruth Davidson, Conservative peer and former Scottish Conservatives leader, opens up about her life’s struggles and triumphs. From surviving two near-fatal accidents to managing depression and reconciling her faith with her sexuality, Ruth shares how she has navigated these challenges while passing on valuable life lessons to her son.
A Scottish Childhood and Early Trauma
Ruth describes herself as a “Scottish mongrel,” born in the Scottish Borders and raised in a small village in Fife. Her parents, both from Glasgow council estates, left school at 16 and worked hard to provide for their family. At just five years old, Ruth was involved in a life-changing accident. “I was run over by a truck,” she recalls. The accident left her with multiple injuries, including a broken leg and a severed nerve. Despite this, she astonishingly told paramedics she felt “fine,” a reflection of her upbringing.
Remarkably, her parents didn’t wrap her in cotton wool after the incident. “Looking back now, it amazes me,” she says, especially as a parent herself.
Another Brush with Death
Two decades later, Ruth found herself in another hospital bed, this time after breaking her back during a training exercise with the Territorial Army. Jumping through a window frame headfirst, she fractured her spine in three places. “I did slightly think, ‘What an idiot,’” she reflects. This time, recovery involved wearing a back brace for three months.
Grappling With Self-Worth
Ruth admits it took years to realise that others weren’t necessarily better than her, despite outward appearances. “Knowledge is not the same as intelligence – and confidence is not ability,” she says. The loudest voice in the room isn’t always the smartest, a lesson she learned as she found her own voice.
Journalism, her first career, became frustrating. Although it allowed her to ask important questions, it wasn’t enough. Ruth wanted to make a real difference, leading her to quit the BBC and pursue politics – a decision that shocked her mother.
Managing Depression and Coming Out
Throughout her adult life, Ruth has managed clinical depression, a condition she has openly discussed. Part of her depression stemmed from survivor’s guilt following a friend’s suicide. “I thought my condition was going to be very limiting,” Ruth says, explaining that she feared people would judge her harshly.
Ruth also came to terms with her sexuality later in life, only coming out in her late 20s. She struggled to reconcile her faith with her identity, but by her mid-30s, she found a sense of peace.
Life Lessons and Family Values
Now a mother to a five-year-old son, Ruth is determined to pass on the resilience she has built over the years. She wants her son to feel secure in himself and learn that life’s challenges can be overcome with determination. “I want him to always know he is loved,” she says.
Despite her achievements, Ruth remains down-to-earth, describing herself as a “Labrador” who needs to be let off the lead. She finds happiness in physical exhaustion, preferring to end the day feeling tired from activity rather than mental strain.
As someone who has spent over 15 years in the public eye, Ruth no longer lets online criticism affect her. “Part of it is ageing,” she says. “You learn to trust yourself more.”
Though she’s scared of heights, Ruth believes in confronting her fears. “I think it’s good – important, even – to force yourself to do things you are scared of,” she concludes.
