Russell Findlay would be given a top post in Tom Tugendhat's shadow cabinet if he becomes the next UK Conservative leader in an attempt to grow the party's vote in Scotland.

Tom Tugendhat, a leadership hopeful in the UK party contest, was speaking to Scottish journalists at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham as he also described the SNP-led Scottish Government's handling of the country as a "complete disaster".

Mr Tugendhat described Scotland as "integral" to his vision for the UK.

He has won the backing of 16 of Scotland's 31 MSPs and Scottish Tory MP Harriet Cross said she believed more would follow.

Mr Tugendhat is up against Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly and Robert Jenrick, the later widely considered the favourite.

But Mr Tugendhat was the only candidate to speak to Scottish journalists.

He said: "I'm incredibly proud that I've got most - or well over half - of the Conservative MSPs supporting me. For me, this is something I'm very proud of.

"I want to change the way the Conservatives work. I want to change us from being a Westminster club to a national movement.

"I want to bring an MSP into the shadow cabinet to make sure we're constantly hearing that Scottish voice."

He added: "I'll make sure we're in touch constantly because what we need to is make sure that the relationship between the Conservatives in Scotland and the Conservatives in Holyrood is strengthened."

A spokesman for Mr Tugendhat later clarified it would be new Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay who would be given the shadow cabinet spot.

He also said Mr Tugendhat would attend Scottish cabinet, virtually, every fortnight and in person "at least twice a year".

And in his criticism of the SNP, he said: 

“Devolution is really important. It’s about giving power to people but all I see in Scotland is I see separatism.

“I see power not going to people but going to Holyrood. The SNP hasn’t devolved it has centralised. It has massively centralised power. It has amalgamated the police service, it’s trying to amalgamate almost every other service and it hasn’t devolved at all.

“We’re seeing councils across Scotland, whether they’re large councils like Glasgow or smaller ones like the Highlands and Islands, we’re seeing them change in a way that they’re able to operate. They’re losing power to Holyrood.

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Asked on his verdict on the SNP in the last few years, he said: “It’s a complete disaster and it’s letting down the people of Scotland but it’s also letting down the whole of the United Kingdom.

“Scotland is an integral part of the United Kingdom. I want every government in the United Kingdom to be well governed and to have the opportunity to have success. I don’t want any part to have such chaos and such mismanagement.”

SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson said: “The SNP will take no lectures from devolution from the Tories – the party that has opposed the Scottish Parliament, repeatedly undermined democracy during their 14 years in power and continue to advocate for the unpicking of devolution.”

At conference, Mr Tugendhat appeared to have the most enthusiasm from members, with his team having to order in back up supplies of his merchandise which included items labelled ‘Tugend-hat’ and ‘Tugend-tan’.

The general mood of conference had lifted following the party’s disastrous election result in July, with candidates taking hope in recent criticism of the Labour Government’s cut to winter fuel payments and donation scandals.

The leadership candidate also described Great British (GB) Energy, which will be headquartered in Aberdeen as a “piece of flim flam”, arguing the flagship Labour policy would be a “real danger” to the UK’s energy future.

GB Energy will not supply energy to homes, but will fund new and existing clean technology as well as small and medium-sized renewable energy projects.

Asked if he thought GB Energy was a “scam”, Mr Tugendhat said: “I do. What brings new jobs is recognising the North Sea industries that offshore energies do so much to promote are absolutely vital to our future.”

He added: “It’s a piece of flim flam that is actively damaging current jobs. It’s going to dissuade investment. It’s going to convince businesses that Scotland is no longer important in terms of energy extraction.

“And instead it looks like they’re playing games with the energy future of the United Kingdom. Now that is a real danger to all of us.”

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: “Our mission is for clean power by 2030 because clean, homegrown energy is the best way to protect billpayers and boost Britain's energy independence.

“We have announced plans for Great British Energy, which will unlock billions of private investment – delivering new energy projects and creating thousands of high-quality jobs.

“The oil and gas industry will play an important role for decades to come, and we will work with the sector to protect current and future generations of good jobs, ensuring a prosperous transition.”

The Scottish Government has been asked for comment.