The Board of Deputies has announced that the guest of honour at the 2017 President’s Dinner, on Monday September 11, will be Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party Ruth Davidson. Ruth will be in conversation with BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis.
Ruth, at 38, is Britain’s youngest major party leader and led the Scottish Conservatives to their best result since 1983 in this year’s General Election. She has recently been named Scottish Politician of the Year by the Glasgow Herald – the first Conservative to take the award since it was founded 20 years ago.
Ruth said: “I’m honoured to have been asked to speak at this year’s President’s Dinner and mark the immense contribution of the Jewish community. At what can seem a challenging, politically divisive time, I believe it’s of paramount importance that we celebrate our shared values and the bonds that bind us together. I’m thoroughly looking forward to addressing the Board of Deputies in September and joining the ranks of a prestigious list of speakers.”
Board of Deputies President Jonathan Arkush said: “We are delighted that Ruth Davidson has accepted our invitation to be guest of honour at the President’s Dinner. Ruth is a rising star of the Conservative Party and has fairly been described as the only real winner in the recent General Election. It will be one of her first engagements south of the border and we very much look forward to hear what Ruth has to say.”