Brexit ‘could harm UK defensive capabilities’

an outright guarantee that EU nationals who have made a home in Scotland in recent years will be allowed to stay. But she has pledged that Scotland will be an “integral” part of the UK if she is elected.

“Strengthening and sustaining the United Kingdom must be a major priority for the next prime minister and under my leadership it will be,” she said.

“I will always stand up for Scotland’s place in the Union and make the clear and passionate case that we are all stronger and safer together.”

Scotland’s 15,000 Conservative members – about a tenth of the UK total – could play a pivotal role in the Tory leadership election battle. After the party returned 31 MSPS under Ms Davidson in the recent Holyrood election, the party is enjoying an unexpected renaissance north of the Border.

Ms May added: “Ruth Davidson’s success at Holyrood, making the Conservatives the main opposition to the SNP, shows clearly that our party is at its most successful when we put ourselves at the service of ordinary working people.

“I pledge to work with Ruth to build on that success and strive to make the whole of Britain – with Scotland a strong and integral part of it – a country that works for everyone regardless of their background.”

Ms Leadsom may struggle to attract support in Scotland after the disclosure over the weekend that she claimed Scotland was “heavily subsidised by the English”. The ability of the British armed forces to fulfil their role effectively could be limited by economic damage caused by Brexit, a parliamentary report has warned.

The 23 June vote to withdraw from the EU could inflict “significant” real-terms cuts on defence budgets, said the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (NSS).

Its report was critical of ministers’ failure to set out contingency plans for Brexit in the NSS published along with the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) last November, accusing them of putting 0 Budgets for defence could suffer says report political interests ahead of national security.

Planning for a new security review should begin “immediately” to take account of the UK’S changed circumstances, the committee said.