RUTH Davidson has spoken out about the need to hit back at the “vile” homophobic abuse she often gets on social media.

The Scottish Conservative MSP, who was Britain’s first openly gay party leader, said she had tried during her time at the top of politics in Scotland to help instil confidence in women to aim high in their chosen careers.

Speaking during a Question and Answer session at the Aberdeen Asset Management Leadership Forum, which took place ahead of the Ladies’ Scottish Open golf competition at the Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, Ms Davidson said the individual and collective rise of women within Scottish politics had coincided with the rise of social media.

“Therefore, there is more abuse that is publicly available to see,” explained the Scottish Tory leader.

“Are there more people at home saying: “I can’t bloody stand that Ruth Davidson; I’m going to turn off the telly," than there was before? Probably not. But are there more people on Twitter, calling me fat, useless, dykey, lesbian and all of these other things that come along with you, things on appearance, sexuality, gender? Yes, there probably is more.”

She suggested that “some of the really thoughtless attacks” came from men, who “still live in their mother’s basements and are sitting at a keyboard with[their] pants on”.

Ms Davidson explained that the attacks which bothered her and which she challenged were those based on her sexuality.

“I get quite a lot of homophobic abuse because I have always been out since I started standing for elections. I was the first openly gay leader of a major political party anywhere in the UK and that attracted with it a certain amount of comment; of not always the supportive type.

“Although, at the moment, it kind of seems you have to be gay in politics…It’s so passe; that was so 2011. But I have a lot of young gay followers on social media and it is important for me to every now and again, every month or so, pick up a couple of the really vile stuff that comes through and hit back at it.

“It is important that people like me are able to show them that you can stand up and say: 'That’s not acceptable language. You don’t get to call me these things and having nothing said about you. You don’t get to say that just because I’m your ideal guest; I’m a lady that loves ladies.'”