Ruth Davidson '˜honoured' by appointment to Queen's Privy Council

Ruth Davidson will join the Queen's privy council. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

The Queen has approved four new appointments to the Privy Council including the Scottish Conservative leader.

Ruth Davidson will join Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster, David Gauke MP and Ed Vaizey MP as members of the Queen’s advisory council. 

The Privy council is supposed to advise the Queen on the exercise of her duties, but its function is now largely ceremonial.

The council is composed of over 500 members of which the majority are former or current parlimentarians, as well as judges, high ranking church officials and Commonwealth leaders.

Scotland must be part of Brexit talks - Ruth Davidson

Commenting on her appointment Ms Davidson said, “I am deeply honoured by this appointment and promise to discharge all duties required of Privy Councillors with diligence and care.”

The Scottish Tory leader has been in London this week to hold talks with the new Prime Minister, Theresa May.

Ms Davidson urged Mrs May to begin making the “positive, practical case” for Scotland to remain in the UK by ensuring her Brexit negotiation effort “embeds all parts of our Union within it”

Members of the council usually hold the title for the rest of their lives. 

However, in the wake of the Chilcot report some MPs have called for Tony Blair to be stripped of his position in the council.