Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to break her silence over accusations her government used public money to try and win votes as more allegations emerged.

The Scottish Conservatives said there was a “cash for votes” scandal swirling round the First Minister following a series of Scottish Government funding announcements that have coincided with campaigning for the local government and general elections.

They said the sums were awarded in “apparent contravention” of civil service guidance warning that “particular care” must be taken over such announcements in the three weeks before polling day.

Ross Thomson, a Tory MSP, wrote on Wednesday to Ms Sturgeon’s most senior mandarin demanding an investigation into a possible breach of purdah rules but the First Minister is yet to say anything about the accusations.

Among the latest examples to emerge was almost £1 million for crofters in Scotland’s most rural communities handed over on April 25. This was welcomed by Gail Ross, the SNP MSP for Caithness, as a “fantastic resource for crofters”.

The following day a further £1 million of EU money was passed onto industry group Seafood Scotland. Mike Russell, the SNP’s Brexit Minister, said it was an example of “why EU funding is so important.”