RUTH Davidson is already embroiled in a conflict of interest row with one of her new employer’s clients.

The Edinburgh MSP shocked Holyrood yesterday when she announced that she was joining PR firm Tulchan Communications as a senior adviser.

The lobbying business has offices in London and Singapore, and Davidson’s role will be helping the company’s corporate clients “navigate a continually evolving public and corporate landscape”.

Tulchan’s clients include a number of household names, and a number of controversial businesses, including the PFI firm HICL Infrastructure, whose Scottish portfolio includes 56 schools and two hospitals.

In their 2019 prospectus, Tulchan warned that both independence for Scotland or any “enhancement” of devolution could cause an “adverse effect on the HICL UK Group’s financial position, results of operations, business prospects and returns to investors”.

Davidson will almost certainly have to vote on independence at some point before her term ends in two years time.

In its prospectus, the business says: “The HICL UK Group could face potential uncertainty if any such referendum is called for in the future. The HICL Guernsey portfolio contains projects located in Scotland and the HICL UK Group may make investments in Scottish projects in future. The effect on such projects could be far reaching if the Scottish Government were to be given individual autonomy, particularly as this could lead to new infrastructure policies or legislation.”

It adds: “In the absence of a vote in favour of independence in Scotland, there remains a risk that an enhanced devolution settlement may be agreed, in terms of which further elements of infrastructure could be devolved and could result in similar risks to those posed by independence. Any move to Scottish independence or greater devolution could have an adverse effect on the HICL UK Group’s financial position, results of operations, business prospects and returns to investors.”

An SNP spokesman said: “This highlights precisely the clear conflict of interests that Ruth Davidson will face across the entire client list of her new boss.

“It’s completely untenable for a sitting politician to accept cash from a lobbyist. Ruth Davidson needs to decide which day job she wants – and quit the other one.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Tories said:“Ruth’s business advisory role is well within all parliamentary and industry rules.

“It is far less onerous than the party leadership she held for eight years, and she is able to complete the 16 hours a month it requires while still having more time for her family and constituency.

“Ruth is committed to seeing out her term as the MSP for Edinburgh Central.”

It’s understood that Davidson, who earns £63,579 as an MSP, will receive £50,000 for 24 days of work a year.

At the time of her resignation as party leader Davidson said her intention was “to continue in my role as the MSP for Edinburgh Central until 2021”.