Ruth Davidson has been caught on a live microphone saying she would rather not talk about the European elections caused by Tory problems with Brexit.
The Scottish Tory leader was overheard rehearsing her speech in the main hall of the Scottish Tory conference in Aberdeen on Friday evening.
Ms Davidson, who returned this week to frontline politics after six months on maternity leave, was practising key sections of the keynote address she will give on Saturday.
She could also be heard practising jokes about SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, former First Minister Alex Salmond, and Nicola Sturgeon.
The Herald has obtained a recording of the session, which was picked up on an improvised media feed arranged by the party itself.
READ MORE: Ruth Davidson: 'I'd happily never see another referendum on Scottish independence in my lifetime'
Unaware her words were being broadcast to the media, Ms Davidson said that although she voted Remain, the result of the 2016 EU election had to be respected and delivered on.
She then said: “Which brings me to the elections on the 23rd of May.
“Do we need to talk about the European elections if we’re talking about Brexit, Eddie?”
She then talks to her top spindoctor, Eddie Barnes.
She then says unenthusiastically: “Yeah, I guess., ok.
“These are elections that franklly nobody wants, and they’re elections that we should not be having to take part in.
“We should have left the EU by now, but we haven’t, so the elections will have to go ahead.
READ MORE: Ruth Davidson fires starting gun on 2021 elections for Scots Tories
“Now, I know that some people who voted Conservative in the past are thinking about voting for a Brexit party this time around, and I’d ask them not to do it.
“The best way to get Brexit delivered is by voting Conservative.”
She then sighs. “Great.”
On Twitter, Nicola Sturgeon described the recording as "some bad jokes, tired lines and ample evidence that the Tories are way out of touch with Scottish opinion on Brexit".
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 3, 2019
Labour MSP Neil Findlay added: "This recording proves no one should trust a word Ruth Davidson says.
“This is humiliating on the eve of a big comeback speech and sums up what everyone already knows about Ruth Davidson - she is a shameless charlatan who will spin any line that she thinks will win her votes.
“The Tories’ shambolic handling of Brexit is already harming Scotland’s economy. No wonder Ruth doesn’t want to talk about the European elections - the Tories and Europe have meant chaos and instability for years now.”
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