A TORY MSP who claimed there is "no such thing as a Bedroom Tax" and suggested people on benefits should not have children has seen her party leadership chances boosted.

Michelle Ballantyne has been given a slot hosting an event at the Conservative Party conference's Union section. Scottish Daily Mail political editor Michael Blackley said it showed the MSP is "clearly rated by Team Boris".

The South Scotland MSP and party spokesperson for social security has been the centre of several media storms throughout her two years in Holyrood.

Last year, when asked if she was proud of the Tory's so-called rape clause, Ballantyne told MSPs the policy is about "fairness".

READ MORE: Michelle Ballantyne urged to resign over ‘vile benefit speech’​

She said: “The two-child limit is about fairness. It is fair that people on benefit cannot have as many children as they like, while people who work and pay their way and don’t pay decisions, have to make decisions about the number of children they can have.”

Her position was called "vile and ignorant" by SNP MSP Tom Arthur and branded "Dickensian" by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. 

Then, at the start of the year, Ballantyne again found herself in hot water after denying claiming the Bedroom Tax doesn't exist.

READ MORE: Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne under fire over bedroom tax comment

Asked if she was committed to mitigating the policy in Scotland by deputy SNP leader Keith Brown, she said: “There’s no such thing as a 'bedroom tax', so I wouldn’t even go down that route,"

The UK Government’s Bedroom Tax imposes a penalty on people claiming housing benefit for living in homes regarded as being larger than they require.

In the summer the MSP was again criticised when she appeared to back privatising the NHS.

During a debate Ballantyne said she "would be quite happy if Government had nothing to do with the running of the NHS".

Her comments were described as "astonishing" and the Tory shadow cabinet was urged to clarify the party's position.