The rest of the UK would be worse off if Scotland voted for independence, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson will tell the Tory faithful in Manchester today.

Speaking to the conference ahead of David Cameron's keynote speech, she will say: "There is no doubt the UK, as a nation, is greater than the sum of its parts."

Despite the commitment of the party leadership to the union Conservative MPs admit some members tacitly support Scotland leaving the UK.

Earlier this week Jacob Rees-Mogg called for the English to accept that Scots MPs hold the casting vote on health and education policies south of the Border as the price worth paying for the union.

The Tory-led Coalition Government is so concerned about growing resentment over the 'West Lothian Question' it plans to propose a series of reforms.

Ms Davidson is also expected to tell delegates that while everyone understands why the independence referendum matters to Scotland "I want to stress its importance to the rest of the UK and why, as Conservatives, we are leading the fight to keep our country together.

"First, we are unselfconscious in the love of our country. We have worked and strived for generations to build a Britain of which we can be proud. In the good times, we have shared our prosperity and our expertise. In darker days, we stood shoulder to shoulder."

She will add: "It's Alex Salmond who talks Britain down, saying Scots are desperate to leave.

"Well, I'm telling you now. Don't believe it.

"When it comes to this issue, Alex Salmond doesn't speak for a majority of Scots. In fact, he never has."

Ms Davidson also said she expected to see Mr Cameron in Scotland more often in the run up to the referendum.