Theresa May has staked her reputation on saving “our precious Union” ahead of her first visit to Scotland since she called a snap election.
The Prime Minister, who is due to visit the north-east on Saturday, said she sees it as her “personal responsibility” to stop the SNP breaking up the UK.
She also pleaded with Scots, who voted by a 62% majority to stay in the EU, to back her on June 8 to “strengthen my hand in the Brexit negotiations”.
It came on the back of a claim by Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, who will be joining Mrs May on the campaign trail on Saturday, that the PM is “more in touch” with Scots than Nicola Sturgeon.
A new poll published on Friday suggested the Tories could be on track to win eight seats in Scotland in the general election.
Research by YouGov for The Times in Scotland put support for the Conservatives on 28% – behind the SNP, who were on 41%.
Mrs May said: “I care passionately about the future of our precious Union.
“As Prime Minister, I feel a personal responsibility to do all I can to protect it.
“It matters to me, as it matters to millions of people across the UK.
“My message to the people of Scotland today is clear: if you vote for me it will strengthen my hand in the Brexit negotiations.
“It will strengthen the Union, strengthen the economy and together the UK and Scotland will flourish.
“Because when Scotland is flourishing, the rest of the United Kingdom is flourishing too.”
The YouGov poll gave Nicola Sturgeon a positive approval of +2%, with 47% of people questioned stating she is doing well in her role compared to 45% who said she was doing badly.
The Prime Minister scored -14%, with 51% stating she was doing badly compared to 37% who think she is performing well.
The number of SNP MPs at Westminster could fall from 56 to 47, according to the projection.
Support for Labour in the poll was 18%, while the Liberal Democrats secured 7% in the poll.
The poll, for which more than 1,000 people were questioned between April 24 and 27, found 45% of Scots backing independence, with 55% in favour of the Union – the same result as recorded in the 2014 referendum.
Campaigning in East Renfrewshire on Friday, the First Minister warned: “The truth is the more Tory MPs Westminster has, the heavier the price Scotland will pay.”
“The SNP is the only party that can stand up to the Tories and, working with the Scottish Parliament, SNP MPs will fight these devastating policies,” she added.
