Theresa May has urged Scottish voters to stand up against SNP "separatists" and again pitched her "strong and stable leadership" after being accused by Jeremy Corbyn of relying on "simple slogans".

The Prime Minister made an ambitious bid to capitalise on growing Tory support north of the border, where the party has only one MP, saying she would ensure Scotland and the UK "flourish together".

In the rural village of Crathes, Aberdeenshire, where TV channels were unable to broadcast live and several journalists complained of a lack of mobile signal, Mrs May reiterated her call for voters to back her to strengthen her hand in Brexit negotiations.

It came after Mr Corbyn accused her of slipping into a "presidential bunker mentality", reliant on sound bites and squeezing dissent, and claimed her attitude could lead to "damaging mistakes" for the country.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reacted to Mrs May's foray north by urging voters not to allow the nation to be "dragged back" by an "increasingly hard-line right wing Tory Government" in Westminster.

The Herald:

But Mrs May's visit to northern Scotland underlined the size of the election victory she thinks is within her grasp, with the Tories now the leading unionist party north of the border, according to opinion polls.

Making a direct plea to Scottish voters who oppose independence, the PM said: "We want to ensure that we build a more secure and united nation.

"That means taking action against the extremists who would divide us and standing up against the separatists who want to break up our country."

Mrs May went on: "There is only one candidate for prime minister who will stand up and defend the United Kingdom. And my commitment is clear that if you strengthen my hand in those Brexit negotiations, I will work to ensure that Scotland and the UK flourish together.

"So on June 8 vote for five years of strong and stable leadership. Give me the mandate to lead Britain, give me the mandate to speak for Britain, give me the mandate to fight for Britain and give me the mandate to deliver for Britain."

Mrs May spoke after Mr Corbyn addressed supporters in the Labour stronghold of Whitechapel, east London, in his most personal speech of the campaign so far.

He compared Mrs May to Tony Blair, whose premiership he said showed what can go wrong if leaders go unchallenged because his Labour government "bought into Conservative ideas" about the economy that left Britain with no defence against the global financial crisis.

The Labour leader said Mrs May is "insecure" because she wants more power, while he would empower others if he is elected PM.

"If leaders go unchallenged, they can make some of the most damaging mistakes," Mr Corbyn said.

"And if party leaders put themselves ahead of serving the people, they stop listening and even put our country at risk.

"Barely nine months into Theresa May's premiership, there are clear warning signs that she and her closest advisers are slipping into that presidential bunker mentality.

"Whereas it is the job of leadership to hold open the space for dissent, new thinking and fit-for-purpose policy.

"So while it might not be the stuff of sound bites, I have always believed in standing firm and empowering others to make up their minds and come on board when they are ready."

He added: "It is the mindset that serves the many, not the few."

Tim Farron used a visit to Liberal Democrat-held Leeds North West to urge voters to back his party because Britain "desperately" needs the strong opposition that Mr Corbyn is failing to provide.

Mr Farron said: "The Liberal Democrats are absolutely clear that our country faces an absolute democratic challenge if it becomes a one-party state on June 8.

"What does that mean to your local hospital? What does it mean to local police forces? What does it mean to local schools if you have a Conservative government in London with a colossal majority able to take everybody here and around the country for granted?

"The British people need a decent and strong opposition, the Liberal Democrats will be it.

"You do not need to agree with me or with us on absolutely everything, we can differ on some points, but we can agree on one thing - and that is Britain desperately needs that strong and decent opposition and only the Liberal Democrats can be it."

A Conservative source said Mrs May on Saturday had campaigned in her constituency, as well as going door knocking and holding a business round-table in Scotland.

The party's press office tweeted: "Theresa May has been to the 3 nations of Great Britain since the #GE2017 (election) started visiting cities, large and small towns.

"PM today visited a rural community whilst Corbyn managed to venture all of 2 miles from his own house to give a speech about himself."