RUTH Davidson is "at best as a mouthpiece and at worst a nuisance" by her Westminster colleagues, rivals claim, after it emerged she waited four months for a reply from the UK Government.

The Scottish Tory leader wrote to then energy secretary Amber Rudd championing the case of a Perthshire industrial park which had planned to build a small four-turbine wind farm to help it expand but was set to be hit by changes to a subsidy scheme

Ms Davidson passed on the concerns of the Binn Eco Park, that its small development was to be hit by a technicality potentially risking jobs and meaning a continued reliance on diesel power, in October.

Read more: Ruth Davidson leaves door open to second EU vote

However, despite her office pushing Ms Rudd’s special advisor for a response, the Scottish leader was forced to chase up her enquiry personally two months later. She wrote: “I would be grateful if you were able to tell me whether and when a response is likely to be received.” Andrea Leadsom, then junior minister to Ms Rudd, eventually responded in January.

Correspondence released under the Freedom of Information Act shows that Ms Davidson admitted to the eco park owner that the delay in replying was “unacceptable”.

The documents led to claims from the SNP that the UK Government “cares little about Scotland” and suggested Ms Davidson is seen as “at best as a mouthpiece and at worst a nuisance” by party colleagues in London.

However, the Scottish Tories hit back, saying Ms Davidson and Ms Rudd had spoken face to face about the issue and that the written correspondence was merely “to keep things in order”.

Fulton McGregor, the SNP MSP said: “Tory cuts to renewable support have been of huge concern to the industry in Scotland – yet Ruth Davidson had to jump through hoops to even get a response from her party colleagues in Westminster. “These documents simply confirm what we’ve always known – despite Ruth Davidson’s assertions to the contrary, the Tory government cares very little about Scotland.

Read more: Ruth Davidson leaves door open to second EU vote

“We’ve repeatedly seen this in their actions in government – they’ve implemented the hated bedroom tax, signed a blank cheque for renewing Trident nuclear weapons stationed on the Clyde, made countless broken promises during the independence debate, and are currently in the process of trying to drag Scotland out of the EU against our will.

“No matter what Ruth Davidson says, the UK government are utterly ambivalent about Scotland’s interests – and these papers show that their Scottish leader is seen at best as a mouthpiece and at worst a nuisance by her Westminster colleagues.”

Ms Davidson has been seen publicly as an influential and popular figure within her party, winning regular praise from David Cameron as Prime Minister despite speaking out on occasion against UK Tory policy. She has previously criticised plans to cut tax credits and described the flying of flags at half mast from public buildings to mark the death of a Saudi king as “a steaming pile of nonsense.”

In July she mocked Ms Leadsom, now the environment secretary, for her chaotic bid to become Tory leader and Prime Minister raising gaffes around her comments on motherhood and career achievements. Ms Rudd has become Home Secretary since the exchange over energy policy.

Read more: Ruth Davidson leaves door open to second EU vote

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “Ruth and Amber spoke face to face on this issue following political cabinet so follow-up paperwork was simply to keep things in order.

“It’s clear the SNP are rattled by the strong opposition of the Scottish Conservatives. If they spent less time putting in FoI requests regarding Ruth and more time getting on with the job of governing Scotland our schools, hospitals and police force might be in a better state than they are on the SNP’s watch.”