IT would be a “huge mistake” if Ruth Davidson headed up a future campaign to keep Scotland and the UK together, Labour’s Kezia Dugdale has claimed.

The Scottish Tory leader, who has championed the cause of the Union, has transformed the Conservatives in Scotland, making them the second largest party at Holyrood.

But the Scottish Labour leader said if there was to be another vote on independence, the pro-Union campaign should look outside of politics for its leader.

Dugdale also said that if Scots are “forced” into a second referendum, she could “not imagine” working with the Tories again in a repeat of the Better Together campaign that was successful in 2014.

Nicola Sturgeon has said another referendum is “highly likely” in the wake of Theresa May’s plans for a hard Brexit and speculation has been rife the First Minister may call one for next year over the coming weeks.

During a fringe event she was questioned on what Labour’s stance should be in a second independence referendum, and said she would be in favour of a federal option on the ballot paper.

“With regard to should there be an option in any future referendum, it’s not going to surprise you for me to say I don’t want there to be another referendum,” she said.

“But I can certainly see a legitimate case for if there were to be a referendum that you might put something as strong as a federal solution for the United Kingdom on the ballot paper.”

It was put to her that it is “not inconceivable” that Ms Davidson could lead a future pro-UK campaign, but the Scottish Labour leader said: “That would be a huge mistake.”

She added: “I think that in this referendum that’s not going to happen, we could draw some lessons from the EU referendum and seek to try to have a non political voice at the forefront of that, but I can’t say I’ve spent a huge amount of time contemplating who that might be.”

She added: “I think that in this referendum that’s not going to happen, we could draw some lessons from the EU referendum and seek to try to have a non political voice at the forefront of that, but I can’t say I’ve spent a huge amount of time contemplating who that might be.”

She also insisted: “In that independence referendum that’s not going to happen I would be arguing very strongly for a Labour case for the Union.”

Dugdale added: “If we are forced to go through it again, I will be making a Labour case for the benefits of the United Kingdom.”

She believed her federalism proposals would help win back previous Labour supporters who had moved to the Yes cause, saying her plans represented a move away from the “status quo”.

Dugdale and UK party deputy Tom Watson will address the conference today, with UK leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking on Sunday.

In a constant theme for the conference she is expected to say she will fight against independence and will “fight tirelessly to make sure” the Union side win.

During her Q and A with the Record she said there is “no escaping” the economic case for independence has weakened since 2014.

“We would be faced with a £15 billion deficit,” Dugdale said.

“So as much as I hear Nicola Sturgeon talk about an improved social security system, welfare and all the things she would do if we were independent, the hard cash to realise those ambitions isn’t there.”

She added: “I don’t believe a second independence would be won – that’s not why I’m against it. I’m against it because it would be bad for Scotland.”