A vote for the Tories in the general election will be a vote in support of the so-called rape clause, SNP depute leader Angus Robertson has said.

The MP was asked on the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland programme whether the SNP would limit tax credits to two children, as proposed by the Conservatives, or keep the existing policy.

He said: "What you're talking about here is is what is more generally known and understood as the rape clause, which unfortunately the Tories in Scotland have been running away from ever since it was passed.

"The SNP's position is that we support its repeal at Westminster, that is where our focus is, and if ever we wanted a timely reminder that the Tories are the nasty party it is this heinous rape clause.

"The more SNP MPs there are at Westminster, the louder the voice will be against the rape clause.

"Anybody voting Tory unfortunately will be contributing towards an excuse that this is an appropriate policy, it's not."

Speaking to the same programme, Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw defended the policy.

He said: "Every form of welfare benefit reform is difficult, it touches on sensitive issues, back in 2015 we were committed to welfare reform and one of those reforms was that there would be child tax credits for the first two children in each family.

"After that we felt that it was appropriate there should be a number of exemptions, multiple births was one of them, children adopted from care was another, and also any child that was subsequently born as a result of non-consensual sex.

"We think that it is right that benefit is attached, but I accept that it is an awkward policy."

Scottish Labour deputy leader Alex Rowley said: "Jackson Carlaw should be ashamed for defending the abhorrent rape clause his Tory Party has introduced.

"Just like (Scottish Tory leader) Ruth Davidson, the mask has well and truly slipped.

"This kind of vile policy demonstrates just what is at stake in this general election: a future with a Tory government led by Theresa May that continues its callous approach or a future where a Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn works for the many, not the few."

Reports in the Scotland On Sunday, meanwhile, suggest scrapping the clause would cost almost £200 million over the next four years.

A document seen by the paper compiled by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre said removing the two-child cap would cost £20 million in 2017/18, £40 million in 2018/19, £60 million in 2019/20 and £75 million in 2020/21.