Ruth Davidson has been forced to deny she is at loggerheads with Theresa May over immigration.
The leader of the Scottish Conservatives confirmed she still backs the free movement of people if it means the UK had full access to the single market following the vote to leave the European Union.
But the Prime Minister put the issue at the heart of her opening speech to the Conservative conference in Birmingham, telling delegates: “We will decide for ourselves how we control immigration”.
Pressed on her views, Ms Davidson said: “Of course I wanted full access to the single market. Of course I was happy with free movement of people.
“That’s why I was on the side of the debate that I was on.
“That’s why I was advocating that we stayed in the European Union and kept all of these things.”
She added: “There are going to be changes, I accept there are going to be changes.
“They are not the changes I campaigned for but what I do want is maximum access that we can possibly negotiate to the single market because I believe the single market is a good thing.
“Clearly I didn’t have a huge problem with movement of people. That’s why I wasn’t arguing on the other side.
“The Prime Minister has said that she wants maximum access (to the single market).”
She also made it clear she had no intention of following Mrs May’s push for new grammar schools in England.
“It’s not something that I have ever suggested, it’s never been in any manifesto in Britain and it won’t be in any manifesto that I write for Scotland as long as I am leader of the Scottish Conservative Party.”
Ms Davidson turned her fire on Nicola Sturgeon, saying the First Minister should focus on helping Scotland cope with Brexit rather than trying to “wish away” the referendum result.
She accused the SNP leader of attempting to use the issue as a “constitutional chisel” to break up the UK instead of listening to the concerns of businesses about the Brexit process.
Meanwhile, the Tories have claimed that SNP tax plans will impose a £1 billion “Scotland surcharge” on families and businesses across the country.
They said this will make Scotland the highest-taxed part of the UK over the next four years.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: “The Scotland Act 2016 devolves unprecedented powers over tax and welfare to the Scottish Parliament.
“How the SNP use those powers is now up to them – and they will have to account to the Scottish people for their plan to tax Scotland £1 billion more than England over the next four years.”
The research looks at income tax, business rates, stamp duty reforms and air passenger duty but the Liberal Democrats claimed it also took in Treasury cash, so was not accurate.
Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: “This is an embarrassing gaffe from David Mundell.
“He is trying to condemn the Scottish Government even though he appears to be signing the very same cheques in question.”
A Scottish Conservative spokesman said the party was “attacking the difference between England and Scotland” and accused the SNP of “pocketing” the cash as part of “a stealth tax rise”.
Ms Sturgeon lashed out at Ms Davidson as she urged her rival to lobby Mrs May and secure full access to the single market when the UK leaves the EU.
A spokesman for the First Minister said: “Ruth Davidson is tying herself in knots over her position on this key question of whether we stay in the single market.
“Scotland deserves better than that – just three months ago Ms Davidson was saying single market membership was vital, but now she is spinning and twisting furiously to avoid upsetting her boss the Prime Minister and the hardline Tory Brexiteers.
“The Tory manifesto gave an unequivocal pledge to remain in the single market – if Ruth Davidson has any serious influence on her London colleagues she should use it to make them keep that promise, which is so vital for Scottish jobs and investment.”
