NICOLA Sturgeon has branded Ruth Davidson a "sell-out" in a scathing attack on the Scottish Tory leader over Scotland, Brexit and the EU.

Sturgeon said Davidson had abandoned the pro-EU stance she championed during the In-Out referendum and was now showing her "true colours" as a Brexiteer by adopting the hardline rhetoric of senior Tories at Westminster.

In a speech in Perth to SNP activists, Sturgeon hit back at the Tories after Chancellor Philip Hammond used a visit to Edinburgh to categorically rule out a Scotland-only deal over Brexit.

Sturgeon said Davidson was one of the "enthusiastic members of the Conservative faction" pushing for a 'Hard Brexit' that would see Scotland dragged out of the Single Market, which allows for the tariff-free movement of goods.

Sturgeon also said that Davidson had abandoned the moderate Tory image she sought to project during the EU referendum campaign and embraced a Thatcherite agenda to erode workers' rights.

She said the Tories wanted to "roll back the gains of devolution" by ending flagship policies passed by Holyrood such as universal free NHS prescriptions and free university tuition for students.

Sturgeon issued her most forthright attack yet on her Tory opponent, as the UK government's Brexit strategy is due to come before the UK's Supreme court tomorrow.

Sturgeon suggested Davidson had swapped sides since the EU referendum campaign, when the Scottish Tory leader played a senior role in the Remain campaign, including a TV debate against Boris Johnson.

However, Sturgeon claimed that Davidson was now indistinguishable from Tories such as Theresa May, Hammond and foreign secretary Johnson, who she accused of backing a 'Hard Brexit'.

The First Minister said: “In a televised debate during the referendum campaign Ruth Davidson denounced the Brexiteers as selling a ‘lie’. But she is now guilty of a sell-out on the commitment to single market membership she advocated both before and after the EU referendum.

“In that same debate she shouted to viewers: “You deserve the truth". Now they join in the deception. So here’s the truth for people in Scotland, and this is why it matters so much: a hard Tory Brexit will cut trade, cost jobs and lower living standards.

“The Scottish Tories are not just putting party before country - they’re putting the right-wing of the Tory party before country. They are embarrassed that there was on overwhelming majority for Remain in Scotland.

“They seek to scare people into believing that they have no option but to accept any amount of economic pain from a Tory Brexit – regardless of how they voted. The Tories want to silence Scotland. But we, the SNP, will make Scotland’s voice heard.”

Sturgeon said Davidson and her Tory allies at Westminster had "hi-jacked the EU referendum result" and were seeking to impose a 'Hard Brexit' on Scotland against the will of the nation.

She said: “The Tories want to roll back the gains of devolution that have helped so many families. They want the sick to pay for their prescriptions and students to pay for their education.

“At a time of rising prices they want to hit family budgets even harder. And when it comes to Europe the Scottish Tories are showing their true colours. Week after week in the Scottish Parliament the Tories vote against continuing membership of the European Single Market.

“They’ve turned their backs on the moderates in their own party. They’re now enthusiastic members of the Conservative faction which has hi-jacked the EU referendum result and is demanding a hard Brexit."

Sturgeon said Tory Hard Brexit supporters wanted to pursue right wing policies such as the scrapping of employment rights that emanate from the EU.

She said: "The motivation for many who voted Leave will be very different from the motivation of those on the Tory right. And make no mistake what is unfolding before us now is a Tory Brexit.

“The motivation of the Tories in charge of this process is clear. It was the former Conservative Chancellor Lord Lawson who gave the game away when he said: “Brexit gives us the opportunity...to finish the job that Margaret Thatcher started.”

“For the right-wing of the Tory party this is the opportunity they’ve been waiting for. To do away with hard-won workers’ rights. To embark on a race to the bottom in employment protection. So to those who voted Leave – I understand your desire for change. But there is a better way.”

A Scottish Conservative spokesman accused Sturgeon of failing to respect the outcome of the EU referendum, when the UK voted to Leave by 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

The spokesman said: “The SNP doesn’t have form for respecting the outcome of referendums, and it’s proving as much again today. Ruth Davidson is the only party leader in Scotland who has accepted the result, and now wants to make it work for Scotland. Everyone else, especially Nicola Sturgeon, is in denial.”