SCOTTISH Tory leadership hopeful Michelle Ballantyne claimed global warming could “benefit” Scotland — and insisted our cows are “climate-friendly”.

The MSP was branded “utterly outrageous” after she told a hustings event she’d been informed of a secret report explaining why it could be good for the country.

3 Scottish Tory leadership hopeful Michelle Ballantyne insisted our cows are 'climate-friendly' Credit: Getty - Contributor

3 Ms Ballantyne also hit out at 'anti-farming' climate change claims Credit: Getty Images - Getty

Ms Ballantyne also accused eco campaigners of being on a “bandwagon”, claimed the dossier was being suppressed and failed to name the “expert” who she claimed had told her about it.

Quizzed by party members at the Edinburgh event with rival Jackson Carlaw, she said: “I was talking to an expert quite recently.

“He advised me a report done on climate change for Scotland highlights that Scotland will benefit, so it’s being suppressed needless to say.

“But I don’t think it’s about saying ‘look there’s a report that says it’s all great’, it’s about understanding what impact that will have and what we need to do to change it.

"It is a bit of a bandwagon at the moment.”

Social security spokeswoman Ms Ballantyne also hit out at “anti-farming” climate change claims and said the industry must be “protected” from the impact.

She added: “Because most of our cattle are grass-fed, actually we are a healthy nation when it comes to climate change and farming.

“We could put a stamp on that and create as a unique selling point to the world, climate-friendly cows.

3 SNP deputy leader Keith Brown claims Climate change is one of our 'biggest challenges' Credit: Getty - Contributor

"We have opportunities here around climate change and need to harness them, not just see it as a negative.”

A 2017 Oxford University report found grass-fed cattle release more greenhouse gas than can be offset.

SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said: “Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face.

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"For a prospective Tory leader to downplay its importance is bad enough, but to argue that evidence is being suppressed is utterly outrageous.”

And Green MSP Mark Ruskell said: “This is an issue requiring urgent leadership, not conspiracy theories.”

Ms Ballantyne was approached for comment.

christine.lavelle@the-sun.co.uk

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