Jeremy Hunt wants to turn Scotland into a “green Silicon Valley,” transforming the nation into an exporting powerhouse.

The underdog in the race to succeed Theresa May as Prime Minister also hints today that if he won the Conservative leadership contest, he would slash duty on one of Scotland’s prime exports: scotch whisky.

As he and Boris Johnson prepare for this evening's one and only party hustings in Scotland, the Foreign Secretary uses an article in the Times to declare his devotion to the United Kingdom and have a swipe at his opponent – who said if he became PM, he would add the words “Minister for the Union” to the title.

He says: "My commitment to the Union is second to none but I don’t want to be a prime minister, who declares myself ‘Minister of the Union’ and thinks that’s enough.

"I have a vision to restore Scotland’s economy to its historic strength by looking to the industries of the future. The entire country can become a green Silicon Valley and an exporting powerhouse that leads the UK, not the other way around.”

Mr Hunt points out that, historically, Scotland has excelled at promoting ideas and inventions globally.

“Where there is an existing market advantage - in Fintech, BioTech, or the food and drink industry - I will seek to drive that home,” he declares.

“That means a review of spirit duty to establish the best path to economic growth and the most tax revenue. Scottish whisky has an in-built, natural and nostalgic advantage over its competitors but we cannot get complacent; there are markets that must be seized in South America and Asia.

“If we deliver a good Brexit deal and follow it with the right trade deals, we can continue the Scottish whisky boom," adds Mr Hunt.

As well as the Scottish hustings in Perth tonight, the ballot papers also go out today. As it is widely believed that most of the 160,000 or so Tory members will vote quickly, this in all practicality means the contest could be over this weekend with more than two weeks still to go before ballots close on July 22.

Yesterday, Mr Hunt changed tack after he initially said he would allow a Commons vote on fox-hunting in which he would back its restitution in England and Wales.

Later, however, he stressed: "But it wouldn't be my priority as Prime Minister. We're going to have Brexit, we've the social care system...we've got huge economic priorities that are going to have to be addressed; so that wouldn't be where I'd focus my energies."

During a campaign visit in Yorkshire, Mr Johnson side-stepped the fox-hunting issue, saying his priority was to “get Brexit done on October 31, to do everything I can to unite our country…and then get our party ready to defeat Jeremy Corbyn."

On social care south of the border, Mr Hunt set out a four-point plan, which would be explained in detail in a Green Paper to be published in his first 100 days in office. This would include a 10-year funding plan aligned with the 10-year plan he negotiated for the NHS, including additional state funding for local councils from the £25 billion of fiscal headroom available.

On the stump in Yorkshire, Mr Johnson said he too would immediately start work on social care reforms and set out two key principles, which were “no-one should face eviction from their home to pay for the cost of their care and everybody's got to have dignity and security in old age”.

Last night, at hustings in the county, the former London Mayor said he too would put the Union before Brexit but argued no Scottish voter would be able to support a UK government that did not push through Brexit after being asked to in the 2016 referendum. Mr Johnson, therefore, insisted Brexit had to happen to save the Union.