Ruth Davidson has warned Nicola Sturgeon to remember that she is the first minister for all of Scotland – not just the SNP.
She made the remarks yesterday as she predicted the Tories were on track for their best ever Holyrood result.
The leader of the Scottish Conservatives also revealed she turned down a place on the board of the Better Off In EU referendum campaign organisation in order to focus on next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.
She identified the Highlands and Islands as a big target, highlighting the absence of any mainland Liberal Democrat MSPs, and said polling showed that a quarter of “self-identified Conservative voters” voted tactically in the general election.
Addressing activists at the Tory party conference in Manchester, she pledged to bust the “myths” of the Scottish Government’s record and unveiled plans to increase carer’s allowance.
“I believe we are working towards and we are on course to return the highest number of MSPs since devolution began,” she said.
“I’ve been tremendously clear with all our candidates, all our returning MSPs, centralised organisers and campaigners, we are going for our best result.”
Asked if the Tories could overhaul Labour at Holyrood, Ms Davidson insisted that was not a measure she wanted to use.
She added: “I have no control about what happens to the Scottish Labour party. The Scottish Labour Party appears to have no control about what happens to the Scottish Labour Party.
“There’s an online blog I read on the way over here which quoted a former Labour adviser who said he didn’t think the Conservatives could overtake Labour but he did think Labour could undertake the Tories.”
Turning to the SNP’s record, she accused the Scottish Government of being “increasingly defined by cronyism and incompetence” and dismissed its claim independence is inevitable.
She added: “I look forward to some grown-up politics, I want a politics where the obsession with the constitution and independence can finally be put to one side.
“I believe the UK is fundamentally strong. I believe the UK’s best days are ahead of it – a stronger, more flexible Union, providing a home for us all with room to spare.”
Ms Davidson also outlined a new promise to Scottish voters that she would increase the carer’s allowance to the same level as job seekers’ allowance.
She said: “Nobody becomes a full-time carer because of money – they do it out of love – but as well as our recognition and our thanks, they deserve a little extra help and I want to make sure they get it.”
Asked where she stood on the question of the EU, she said she believed “on balance” staying in was best for Britain, adding she would campaign in a private capacity once the Holyrood election was over.