Scottish Conservatives call for named-person legislation to be repealed
The party says the scheme which will be rolled out in August is 'unworkable'
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has called for the repeal of the Scottish Government's named-person legislation, describing it as the "most confused and unworkable law ever passed at Holyrood''.
The Tory leader said campaigning to get rid of the scheme - due to be rolled out across the country in August - would be a priority for her party after the election.
Named person was brought in to act as a safety net for children and families but Ms Davidson said she feared it could make "appalling cases of abuse more likely, not less''.
The Tory leader - whose pitch at the election is to be "leader of the official opposition'' at the Scottish Parliament - said calling for its repeal was an example of how her party could more effectively hold the SNP to account than Labour.
Speaking at a lunch with journalists, she also announced a pledge to fund a further 500 health visitors to help families who need greater support.
She said: "Quite simply ... it is clear the named-person legislation is the most confused and unworkable law ever passed at Holyrood.
"It is ill-judged, it is illiberal and it is intrusive. It imposes layers and layers of extra bureaucracy in the a system which is already creaking.
"My real fear is that by spreading resources so thin to cover every child in the country, it will take away attention from the most vulnerable, making appalling cases of abuse more likely and not less.
"As the principal opposition party at Holyrood after this election we will prioritise its repeal - not just a pause, we will campaign to get rid of it because we believe it is wrong.''
The scheme, brought in as part of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act, will see every youngster under the age of 18 assigned a single point of contact, such as a teacher or health visitor, to look out for their welfare.
It was passed at Holyrood in 2014, with Labour and the Liberal Democrats joining the SNP in backing it while Tory MSPs abstained.
Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has called for its roll-out to be paused so a review of the policy can be undertaken while Ms Davidson has now gone a step further, calling for its repeal.
She added: "This legislation erodes trust.
"Health visitors are supposed to be there to support families, they are there to help new mums and dads in the early days of parenthood.
"Yet thanks to this legislation that relationship is being undermined.''
She admitted action was required, stating: "I do think there is money and resource that needs to be supplied to people who do this frontline work.
"In terms of whether that should be teachers and health visitors rather than social workers, child protection officers and others, I have yet to be convinced.
"I think having more health visitors is a good thing in and of itself. It is not a substitute for named person.''
The Tory manifesto will contain a fully-costed pledge to deliver 500 health visitors in Scotland over the parliament, she added.
"We want to make sure that families and children have help early and enough information and support to make better choices about how they live,'' Ms Davidson said.