Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have been making their pitches to become Conservative leader to party members in Perth, Scotland
Both leadership candidates reiterated their opposition to a second Scottish independence referendum
Sunak said it's “barmy” to focus on independence now, while Truss said she would “never, ever let our family be split up”
But an SNP MP accuses them of “hostility to Scottish democracy” and another says they are “obsessed” with Nicola Sturgeon
Whoever wins the Tory leadership will immediately face demands from the SNP for an independence referendum to be held in October next year
The UK will find out its next prime minister in less than three weeks - on 5 September
Rishi Sunak says the Conservatives will have to "appeal to swing voters everywhere", saying he is the person best placed to do that.
"I don't want to ignore Nicola Sturgeon, I want to beat her," he says.
That last line is a reference to Liz Truss commenting that it was best to ignore Ms Sturgeon.
Sunak continues by saying that he plans to do three things if he is elected PM: "Restore trust, rebuild the economy and reunite our country".
He says he will "not be shy about calling out the SNP's record on drug and alcohol abuse, because it's not good enough and Scottish people deserve better," he says to applause.
Sunak also says that he wants to "restore trust in rural communities", "take on leftist culture", and "set out a plan to get to grips with illegal migration" which, he says, must be done "fairly and legally".
Returning to the hustings, Sunak says that inflation is the main challenge when it comes to rebuilding the economy.
"Inflation is the enemy, it makes everybody poorer," he says.
He says that should be the priority this winter - with energy prices set to rise significantly then - and not "another divisive referendum" on Scotland remaining in the UK.
The ex-chancellor says he will not make decisions which will leave "our kids and grandkids pick up the tab" - in a shot towards rival Liz Truss's economic plans.
Image source, PA MediaProtesters have gathered outside the hustings in Perth
As we reported earlier, protesters have been gathering outside of the Tory leadership hustings event in Perth - many of them branding pro-independence banners.
The Conservative party co-chair, Andrew Stephenson, has now condemned the demonstrations, saying, external he witnessed as pensioners and young women were shouted at and called "Tory scum" by protesters.
He calls on Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to condemn the behaviour.
Image source, STVRishi Sunak walks out to polite applause.
He begins by talking about how the UK welcomed his family as immigrants and allowed them to build a life.
In his family, he says, the thing which was valued was "hard work".
Sunak says the best way to reduce inequality and to spread opportunity is a "world-class education".
He says that is a lesson the SNP would do well to remember.
Andrew Bowie, MP for West Aberdeenshire, is up next as he introduces former Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
He says Sunak is ready to lead the Tories to a "historic fifth consecutive election victory".
In a reference to protests outside the event, he says his candidate is the person ready to kick the SNP's "politics of gripe and grievance, of division and hate - that we have seen outside this hall tonight" into touch.
Now a video from Team Sunak plays out in the hall talking about his values.
Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, says the leadership contest comes at a crucial time for the party and the country.
He says First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her SNP party are threatening to divide the country with a second independence referendum.
The next leader must be prepared to take decisive action and govern for the whole of the UK, he says.
Ross adds "both Liz and Rishi" are up to the challenges ahead.
He then welcomes the evening's host Colin Mackay, political editor of STV.
And here we go, the hustings event is under way.
Craig Hoy, chair of the Scottish Conservatives, introduces the event.
We'll be bringing you the highlights and analysis right here.
Image source, PA MediaThe Tory hustings hit Perth at a time when talk of Scottish independence has rarely been more heated.
Whoever wins the leadership contest on 5 September will immediately face demands from the SNP for an independence referendum to be held in October next year.
Both Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have been, as you would expect, vocal in their opposition to the break-up of the United Kingdom.
Sunak has pledged to "rule out holding another divisive Scottish independence referendum", arguing that people want politicians to focus on the cost of living crisis, energy security and economic growth rather than the constitution.
And he says he would aim to bring the whole of the UK closer together rather than indulging in "political point-scoring" if he becomes PM.
Truss, who lived in the Renfrewshire town of Paisley as a child, describes herself as a "child of the union".
On independence, she has said she would not support a fresh vote, saying "no, no, no" at a hustings event in Exeter.
She has repeatedly said the SNP had described the last referendum in 2014 as "once in a generation", adding: "I don't think we're through that generation yet."
Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are in Perth vying for votes from those who will decide their political future - Conservative Party members.
We all have a say in a general election, but when there’s a change in leadership while a party is already in power, it’s the members of that party who get to choose who leads the country.
But who are they?
We don't know exactly how many there are - because the party won't tell us - but it’s around 160,000, or about 0.3% of the total UK electorate.
Like members of the other major parties, Tories tend to be older, more middle class and more white than the rest of the population.
Find out more here.
Image source, .
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent, reporting from Perth
Liz Truss was pictured with supporters carrying Liz for Leader banners
Liz Truss has arrived at the Tory hustings in Perth.
She's been greeted by a large group of cheering supporters, including the former Scottish Secretary David Mundell and several members of the Scottish Parliament.
Conservative leadership contenders Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak are to be quizzed by party members in Perth, Scotland, in roughly 10 minutes' time.
It is the first time during the contest that they have faced questions from voters in Scotland.
Stick with us for live updates and analysis.
Ione Wells
Political Correspondent, BBC News
Image source, ITV/PAWhat's striking about both Tory candidates' pledges to "take on the SNP" is they both focus on the negative, not the positive.
They are messaging about how they would hold the SNP to account more if they become the next prime minister.
Successful election campaigns usually draw on positive, not negative, language. "Get Brexit Done" – anyone?
Liz Truss wants to give members of the Scottish Parliament more powers to challenge the Scottish government on legally contentious issues without consequences. That's a privilege only MPs in Westminster have at the moment.
Rishi Sunak wants Scottish civil servants to be more accountable to MPs.
He also wants public services in the nations to publish like-for-like data with the Westminster government. This would make it easier to compare, for example, how the NHS in Scotland - which the Scottish government handles - is performing compared to the NHS in England.
But rather than saying what shiny new infrastructure the candidates would pledge for Scotland, they're focusing on how they can better call out where they feel the devolved governments' records are falling short.
The question is whether that's enough to make people actively support the Conservatives, or indeed the UK.
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent, at the hustings
Image source, PA MediaActivists, supporters and members of the public arriving at the hustings at Perth Concert Hall are being greeted by a banner reading "Tory scum out" and a soundtrack which includes the Imperial March from Star Wars.
Protesters have gathered outside the hustings and have set up a large sound system.
Tory activists are handing out “ready for Rishi” and “Liz for leader” flags, t-shirts and placards.
There are few suit jackets which haven’t had a sticker slapped on.
Image source, PA MediaRishi Sunak says he would "take on" Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon rather than ignore her, if he becomes the next prime minister.
Asked in an interview with the BBC if he would ignore the SNP leader - as his rival Liz Truss said it was best to do - Sunak says: "No, I don't want to ignore Nicola Sturgeon, I want to take her on and beat her.
"I think we can make a very strong case for what the UK government does to help people in Scotland and as chancellor I started that."
Earlier in the contest, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said it was best to ignore Sturgeon, describing the first minister as an "attention seeker".
James Cook
Scotland Editor, BBC News
A few miles outside Perth, visitors to Gloagburn Farm have been enjoying the last splash of summer.
Scottish Conservatives are gathering in the Fair City to help pick a new prime minister but the day-trippers are simply selecting sunflowers.
"I wouldn't vote for the Conservatives myself," says Sam Taylor, originally from Australia but now living in Edinburgh who was visiting the sunflower patch with her sons George, four and a half, and Freddie, two.
She says she is optimistic that the incoming Conservative leader will be better than Boris Johnson, whom she criticises for partying while the nation suffered during Covid.
"We definitely need a change, I think. Everyone's ready for something different," she adds.
Jean Jasper, retired and from Perthshire, believes Scotland should stay in the union but she wants the new prime minister to pay more attention to issues north of the border.
"Not moving towards independence but perhaps acknowledging a bit more that Scotland has perhaps independent needs," she says, explaining "I think the Scots in general feel a bit ignored by the UK government.”
David Hynd who lives in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire and works in a warehouse is a supporter of independence. He is not a fan of either candidate.
"Get the Tories out," he says.
"They're no good for Scotland. They don't care about Scotland. Never have. Never will."
Image source, ReutersThe cost of living, tax and restoring trust in politics have all dominated the leadership contest so far.
We’re expecting to hear more on these, and other policies, shortly.
But what exactly have they already promised to deliver if they win the keys to No 10?
Find out from our guide here.
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Scotland has not been a huge focus of the campaign so far - possibly because the contest thrives on where the candidates differ, and they are in broad agreement about affairs north of the border.
Both are critical of the SNP and the Scottish government; both would refuse to back an independence referendum; and both want to do more to push their policies UK-wide.
But some Scottish Tories have said they are still waiting to hear more specific discussion before they make up their minds.
They may also want to look the candidates in the eye and really test their attitude and tone when it comes to those issues where they have a settled position.
How serious are they, really, when it comes to the union, and holding their own against the Scottish government?
To be frank, which of them will be a better prospect with voters north of the border when it comes to a future election?
Image source, PA MediaHello and welcome to our live coverage of the Conservative leadership race, where former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss are battling it out to become the next prime minister.
We’ll be at the seventh Conservative leadership hustings later, where both candidates will be attempting to woo Tory Party members in Perth, Scotland.
The action kicks off at 19:00, with Sunak and Truss each laying out their vision for the future of Scotland and the UK.
They’ll then face questions from the audience.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates and expert analysis.