Leader Ruth Davidson admits she has a lot to prove

The new leader of the Scottish Conservative Party has admitted she has got a "lot to prove" in the weeks and months ahead.

Ruth Davidson beat three other candidates to secure the post vacated by Annabel Goldie.

The former journalist spoke to BBC Radio Scotland ahead of a meeting with Tory MSPs at Holyrood.

Since winning the contest on Friday a Tory donor and leading lawyer have voiced their concern at the outcome.

Ms Davidson, who has been an MSP for six months, told Good Morning Scotland she knew she had to prove why she was the right person for the job.

She said: "I am the new leader. I have got big plans, I have got a vision ahead for reforming the party.

"I've got plans to have a huge review of policy which will take time. I've been in the job for about 90 hours, there is certainly a lot to do."

After winning the contest, Ms Davidson said she was sure the party would come together "because that is what happens after a leadership election".

But QC Paul McBride was the first to be critical. He resigned from the Tory Party saying that the election had resulted in the replacement of "one nice woman with one not so very nice woman".

Scottish Conservative backer John McGlynn, who supported Murdo Fraser's bid to become leader, said the jury was still out on Ms Davidson, who "had a week to 10 days" to prove herself while people were still at the stage of forming opinions.

He told BBC Newsnight Scotland: "Ruth has to prove she is capable of coming up with ideas and policies that will resonate with the people of Scotland in the way that Murdo Fraser did.

"She has to prove that the Tory Party has learned the lessons of electoral defeat."

Mr McGlynn said he had made no decision on future donations but he added that he "wanted to support" the party.

He acknowledged that it was "very, very" early days for Ms Davidson and she had a "difficult job ahead".

On Monday, Ms Davidson met the Prime Minister, David Cameron, at 10 Downing Street. It was widely believed he wanted the 32-year-old to lead the party.

Ms Davidson is the party's first overall leader for Scotland, following a shake-up of the party structure.

Mr Cameron said following the meeting: "Our Scottish party has, for the first time, a leader of the entire movement in Scotland and I look forward to working with Ruth to tackle the big challenges and opportunities facing the country."