The Scottish Conservatives will use their upcoming conference in Aberdeen to “fire the starting gun” for the 2021 Holyrood elections, Ruth Davidson has said.

Good afternoon, conference.

It’s good to be back.

I’ve missed you. I’ve missed parliament. This has been the hardest – and best – six months of my life. And I can tell you one thing.

People who say the sleep like a baby, clearly don’t have one!

It’s great to be back in Aberdeen. It’s great to be home.

It’s particularly great to be back when talented Conservatives are running the council in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and with fantastic campaigning Conservatives as MSPs for the North-East.

And thank you, Andrew, for that introduction.

And can I again congratulate Andrew on recording the fastest time for an MP in this year’s London Marathon?

And the second fastest MP was John Lamont.

It’s great to be in Aberdeen. Or should I say it’s a relief. I asked my team how far I could get away from Westminster, without leaving the UK – so here I am!