RUTH Davidson’s political influence has been completely snuffed out amid the combined mess of Brexit and the Tory leadership debacle, according to SNP depute leader Keith Brown.

Brown has said the Scots Tory leader’s credibility had “sunk to an all-time low” as the UK faces the prospect of Boris Johnson becoming prime minister after Davidson’s party failed with its so-called “Operation Arse” tactics designed to block Johnson’s route to No 10.

Davidson then faced widespread mockery after her high-profile backing of failed Tory leadership hopeful Sajid Javid was ignored by her Westminster colleagues, all of whom backed other candidates.

She has since performed her latest volte-face, saying she would back Johnson in a general election and denying she had accused him of lying during the EU referendum campaign. SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: “It now seems certain that Tory members – including some of Ruth Davidson’s Scottish Tory colleagues – will hand Boris Johnson the keys to Downing Street, raising the chances that the UK crashes out of Europe without a deal.

“That’s an enormous embarrassment for Ruth Davidson, who made it her personal mission to block a Johnson coronation – but couldn’t even convince her own MPs to back her and is now getting ready to welcome him as her boss.

“Coming after a disastrous European election result, Ruth Davidson’s credibility within her party has sunk to an all-time low.

“With Boris Johnson likely to be Prime Minister in a matter of weeks, more and more people are seeing independence as the only way to secure Scotland’s interests.”