Davidson: I am open to a review of rape clause

can’t bring herself to say so. The fact that she’s being mealymouthed about reviewing how it works, I think, shows that she knows she’s on the wrong side of the argument.”

Also talking to Radio 5 Live, Ms Dugdale blamed a “clumsy moment” by Jeremy Corbyn for sowing confusion about Labour’s position on a second independence referendum.

The UK Labour leader said in March he was “absolutely fine” with another vote, despite Ms Dugdale making Scottish Labour’s position one of absolute opposition.

Asked about how hard Mr Corbyn was making her life as leader, Ms Dugdale said: “He had a clumsy moment several weeks ago where he didn’t say ‘I understand’. He used the phrase ‘absolutely fine’ and hastily rephrased it and adjusted it. Ever since, he’s been very clear about his opposition to independence.”

Ms Davidson also accused the First Minister of a “grubby spin operation”, after a row erupted over Brexit and the common fisheries policy (CFP).

Citing a letter from Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom to the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, the SNP’s Banff & Buchan candidate, Eilidh Whiteford, claimed the UK Government was “plotting a gigantic sellout” of the Scottish fleet by signing up to parts of the CFP.

Ms Whiteford last month signed a pledge committing herself never to support the CFP, despite the SNP’s policy of EU membership being synonymous with CFP membership.

Ms Sturgeon cited the same letter to claim the Tories would sell out Scots fishermen.

However, the SFF then released the full text of the letter, showing Ms Leadsom had promised to “disapply” the “most unpopular and unworkable” elements of the CFP.

The SFF’s chief executive, Bertie Armstrong, said: “Any reading of this letter in full makes it clear that the UK Government is committed to ensuring we exit the CFP and reassert control of our waters. In fact, at our meeting with Ms Leadsom in March she said that we are leaving the EU and we are leaving the CFP.”

After visiting Peterhead fish market, Ms Davidson said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s grubby spin operation has been found out – and the SNP’s scaremongering has been exposed for the trash it is. Scotland’s fishing leaders have directly contradicted her to make it clear they are satisfied with the UK Government’s approach.”