Douglas Ross has been branded a "fringe figure" after it emerged he will give his keynote speech at a side event at the Conservative party conference rather than on the main stage.
The Moray MP and Highlands and Islands MSP will address a Scottish Conservative Fringe event in Birmingham on Monday where he will argue for a "fair deal" for Scots who have been left behind by the SNP.
Labour 's shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray took aim at Ross saying he has been "left an absolute joke" ahead of his speech where he will propose to establish a National College of Scotland and to deliver a Rent to Own scheme.
The MP for Edinburgh South said: "The Tory party is gathering to party in Birmingham after crashing the pound and causing chaos with people’s mortgages.
"The last thing ministers should be doing right now is talking to their own members, they should listen to Keir Starmer, recall parliament and get a grip of this mess they’ve created.
"The Scottish Tories have been left an absolute joke. Douglas Ross is losing whatever credibility he has left, by the minute. The beleaguered Scottish Tory leader isn’t even being allowed to do his keynote address at the conference. Instead he’s a fringe figure speaking to a fringe audience.
"Across the UK, Labour is ready to replace the Tories and provide the country with the government it deserves. With the support of people in Scotland we can replace Liz Truss and create a country that works for everyone."
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: "Labour are simply wrong to suggest this. Douglas spoke on the main stage at conference yesterday. He will speak at the same event today that every Scottish Conservative leader does every year at conference."
Ross will tell Tory delegates that a National College will specialise on remote teaching and offer online course so adults can gain new qualifications while working a full-time job.
Under the Rent to Own plan the government would help tenants get on the property ladder by paying 25 per cent of their rent. Renters would pay market rent for a new-build from the owner for five years before applying to buy the home.
Ross is expected to say: "In the SNP’s Scotland where you live has a huge impact on the quality of life you will have. Wages in Moray are nearly half of what people in East Renfrewshire earn, pupils in East Renfrewshire are around two times more likely to get a top grade in their Highers than those in Angus- and the life expectancy of people in Glasgow is six years lower than people in East Dunbartonshire.
"Just think about that- where you live will define your education, your salary and even how long your life will be. How can that be fair in today’s Scotland? Right across Scotland, so many parts of our country are not being given the chance to succeed."
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said the conference poses a "significant challenge" the Scottish Tories.
He added: "It’s been a disastrous first few weeks of her premiership but if the rhetoric from the Tories is to be believed, the worst of this Truss government is yet to come.
"People are already terrified to open their bills as energy prices soar and inflation rockets. As the Tories gather in Birmingham today, the public will be petrified to know what comes next from this heartless UK government.
"This conference also marks a significant challenge for the Scottish Tories. It will be telling to see who actually has the brass neck to show up and support this disastrous UK government after a turbulent few weeks in office."
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