Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson will today suggest that a vote for her party is the “intelligent” choice at Holyrood.

Ms Davidson will also claim the Tories are the only party still committed to fighting independence.

In recent weeks both the Scottish Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders have suggested they would allow their MPs and MSPs to campaign for a Yes vote in a second referendum.

Ms Davidson will say that at May's General Election many Scottish Conservatives supported other pro-UK parties in the hope of stopping the SNP.

That will not happen next year, she said.

"Firstly, because Labour and the LibDems now seem to be embarrassed by their support for Scotland's place in the UK.

"And secondly it's because next year every single vote counts."

She will say that for so long as the SNP refuses to rule out another referendum, her message for voters looking to cast their second, regional vote is clear.

"Whichever party you support, use that vote intelligently," she will say.

"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.”

She will add: “Be assured of this...

"Every cross in the Scottish Conservative box is a vote to promote Scotland's place as part of the United Kingdom we built. And every vote for the Scottish Conservatives will help return a Conservative MSP."

Opposition parties have challenged her to call for a halt to David Cameron’s tax credit cuts in her speech.

Estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands of Scottish families will be affected, losing potentially £1,300 a year.

Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “Ruth Davidson addresses Tory conference having played her part in imposing a work penalty on working families in Scotland.

“These cuts have been branded the new poll tax by senior Tories."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie called on Ms Davidson to disown Home Secretary Theresa May’s “divisive rhetoric” over asylum and immigration.

He said: “She must speak out against Theresa May’s outrageous speech or we must assume that she shares her views.

"Ruth Davidson was right to call for extra help for refugees fleeing the crisis in Syria earlier this summer but her position is at odds with the borderline xenophobia we heard from the Home Secretary at the conference."