A Scottish Tory leadership contender who said people on benefits cannot have as many children as they want has backed tax cuts for the rich.
MSP Michelle Ballantyne said she supported bringing the top rate of tax - currently higher in Scotland - in line with the rest of the UK.
She also defended the presence of ex-MP Ross Thomson, who has been accused of sexual assault, at her campaign launch.
Ballantyne, a South Scotland MSP, will go head-to head with interim leader Jackson Carlaw to succeed Ruth Davidson .
Carlaw, who has the overwhelming support of MSP colleagues, unveiled his campaign last week and is considered to be the favourite.
Ballantyne previously courted controversy after saying "people on benefit cannot have as many children as they like” while workers “have to make decisions about the number of children they can have".
At her campaign launch in Edinburgh , Ballantyne backed tax cuts as a way of supporting working families and stimulating the economy.
North of the border, the top rate of tax is 46p, which is 1p higher than in England. It means the well-off in Scotland pay more more than millionaires elsewhere in the UK.
Asked if she supported bringing the top rate in line with the level set in England, she said: “We should aim for at least a level playing field.”
Ballantyne was also quizzed about the attendance of Thomson, who was in the front row listening to her speech.
Thomson pulled out as a general election candidate after he was accused by Labour's Paul Sweeney of sexual assault. He denies the allegations.
Asked about Thomson and the allegations, Ballantyne informed journalists that they should read the investigation report that is “coming out” into the claims.
