Arlene Foster's new pro-Union project suffered a setback as former Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson rejected claims she would join the ex-DUP leader on tour.
Dame Arlene at the weekend announced her new group, the Together UK Foundation, saying it would be aimed at making "the positive, rational case" for maintaining the United Kingdom.
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said it would involve "mainstream pro-Union voices from across the entire country to highlight the benefits that the Union brings to us all".
Read more: Dame Arlene Foster working on 'new movement' to campaign for Northern Ireland staying in UK
The Sun newspaper had reported a source saying Ms Davidson would "hit the road" with Dame Arlene to "show people what the Union means".
But Ms Davidson distanced herself from the reports, sharing a tweet from a Times reporter who quoted a source describing the claims as "utter b******s".
Sharing the tweet, Ms Davidson said: "This source is well informed...."
Dame Arlene shared details of the foundation as she gave her support to Liz Truss to become the UK's next Prime Minister.
She said the Foreign Secretary, who is battling Rishi Sunak to succeed Boris Johnson as Conservative Party leader, has "proved to be the Union's most passionate advocate".
Dame Arlene added: "In recent years, while others appeared to give up on the Union during post-Brexit negotiations in the name of political convenience, Truss always backed it.
"Despite the fact we are talking about the Conservative and Unionist Party, her stance took real bravery."
Ms Truss is currently the bookies' favourite to win the Tory leadership contest, with the result to be announced on September 5.
In June Dame Arlene revealed she was working on a "new movement" to advocate for Northern Ireland remaining part of the United Kingdom.
The former First Minister, who was ousted as DUP leader last year after an internal party revolt, was speaking after receiving a damehood in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee birthday honours list.
She told BBC Radio Ulster she was "advocating on behalf of the Union now in a non-party political way" and her initiative would "disrupt the narrative that a united Ireland is inevitable".
READ NEXT:
- Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill's office breached transparency laws over Chinese consul meeting, watchdog finds
- Arlene Foster's GB News coverage of the Twelfth of July 'beats Sky News' in TV ratings battle
- Dame Arlene Foster working on 'new movement' to campaign for Northern Ireland staying in UK
-
Arlene Foster and Naomi Long in bitter online spat over policies on Stormont power-sharing
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
