Ruth Davidson pitches for list vote

The Scottish Conservatives will target a second vote from supporters of the union in next year’s Scottish Parliament elections, the party’s leader will say today.

Speaking at the Conservative party conference in Manchester ahead of Prime Minister David Cameron, Ruth Davidson is expected to say the party best represents the two million Scots who voted no in last year’s independence referendum.

She will urge people of all party allegiances to consider giving their second vote to the Conservatives.

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“Labour and the Lib Dems now seem to be embarrassed by their support for Scotland's place in the UK,” she will tell delegates, adding “I have made it clear to my team that I want to target the regional list vote next year.

“So long as the SNP refuses to rule out another referendum, our message for voters looking to cast that second vote is clear. Whichever party you support, use that vote intelligently.

“And if you're one of the two million people who voted 'No' in last year's referendum, use it as your intelligent vote for the Union.”

Cameron is also expected to mention Scotland in his speech, which will brand the 2010s the “turnaround decade” under his leadership.

Scottish Labour urged Davidson to use her platform to distance herself from the UK Government’s cuts to tax credits.

“Since the General Election the Tories’ choices have left working people worse off and failed the test of building a more productive economy to get wages up and the deficit down,” said Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray.