RUTH Davidson has been urged to apologise by SNP MSPs who claimed the Scottish Consevative leader suggested Nicola Sturgeon delayed the launch of her manifesto to gain political advantage by moving it closer to polling day.

The document was due to be unveiled in Edinburgh on Tuesday last week, but was postponed after the Manchester terror attack the previous night in which 22 people died.

Campaigning stopped for most of the week as people across the UK paid tribute to those who had lost their lives in the suicide bombing at the end of an Ariana Grande concert. The SNP manifesto was then launched by the First Minister in Perth on Tuesday this week.

Davidson caused uproar when she appeared in an interview on STV the same evening, pointing out the SNP manifesto launch was “just nine days ahead” of polling day on 8 June.

Discussing whether Nicola Sturgeon had a mandate for an independence referendum and referring to comments Sturgeon made about the timing of a new vote to coincide with any changes in the Brexit timescale, Davidson said: “Have you seen the step back she’s taken in her manifesto, which she’s published just today, just nine days before the poll?”

SNP MSP James Dornan told The National: “I was disappointed to hear Ruth Davidson suggest that the SNP were trying to gain some political advantage by having their manifesto launch yesterday when everyone knows it was due for publication last week. It was postponed because of the terrible events in Manchester.

“It was a very disappointing comment from the leader of a major political party. She should have more respect for her opponents, but also for the people who are suffering as a result of last week’s tragedy.

“To suggest a political party would make capital out of what happened in Manchester is beneath her. Clearly she should apologise.”

Kate Forbes, the SNP MSP, tweeted: “New low for @RuthDavidsonMSP to again scorn @theSNP manifesto launch ‘only 9 days before election’. She knows exactly why we postponed.”

SNP strategist Ross Colquhoun also took to Twitter. He posted: “Yes, @RuthDavidsonMSP our manifesto launch was cancelled out of respect for the tragic events in Manchester. *shakes head* #GE17.”

He added: “It’s come to be expected these days. Crass, insensitive and ill-judged.”

Moray SNP Councillor Paula Coy tweeted: “My goodness @RuthDavidsonMSP ! It was cancelled because of Manchester attack. This is vile in its truest sense.”

A SNP source said last night: “Ruth Davidson knows full well why the SNP manifesto launch was delayed for a week and was only published with nine days to go to the election.

“For her to try and make an issue of it in this way is utterly beneath contempt, and she should apologise.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “Ruth has repeatedly said it’s totally understandable campaigning had to stop – and that includes the original launch of the SNP manifesto. Any suggestion to the contrary is completely inaccurate.”

During the interview Davidson insisted the SNP would not have a mandate to hold a second independence referendum even if it won half of all votes cast in Scotland. The SNP says it will complete a triple lock on a referendum if they win at least 30 seats