KEZIA Dugdale has been accused of “hypocrisy” for joining the Tories in criticising the named person scheme.

Scottish Labour, along with the SNP, backed the policy when it went through Holyrood, while the Conservatives abstained. But the party’s leader has now described the scheme as “an absolute mess” and called for its introduction to be paused while a review is carried out.

It is Dugdale’s second policy reversal in 24 hours after she abandoned plans on Wednesday for a £100 rebate for low earners being asked to pay extra income tax under her tax increase proposals.

She made the remarks on the named person in an interview with the Daily Mail – which has dubbed it a “snoopers’ charter” and is backing a legal challenge led by the Christian Institute. “This entire process has been an absolute mess and it has caused a lot of anxiety for parents. Parents have lost confidence in the named person scheme,” she said.

“We support the principle behind this policy, which is that the children at risk of falling through the cracks get the support they need.

“But the introduction of the policy has been botched by the SNP – from the communication of this policy to parents to the way the legislation has been presented to Parliament.”

She added: “A Labour government will pause the process and ask the Children’s Commissioner to carry out a full review, so that the concerns of parents can be addressed. If improvements are recommended, then they will be implemented.”

Her change of opinion was seized on by Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson and the SNP.

“This is a screeching U-turn from Labour, who can’t seem to find consistency on anything at the moment,” Davidson said. “Only yesterday, they abandoned their ludicrous scheme to force the low paid to queue up for a tax rebate, and now their leader has radically changed her mind on named person. You only have to look at the gushing quotes from Labour less than four months ago praising the named person scheme in the Scottish Parliament.

“Kezia Dugdale herself even said there was ‘ignorance’ surrounding many of the objections. But now she’s decided it was a mess from the start.”

A SNP spokesman hit back insisting the legislation was backed by children’s charities and would support parents. “The legislation was passed by 103 votes to zero by the Scottish Parliament, which exposes the utter hypocrisy on this issue from Labour, who voted for the scheme, and the Tories, who abstained,” he said.

“The people who should be named and shamed on this issue are Kezia Dugdale and Ruth Davidson for their blatant opportunism and a shameful attempt to play politics with an issue which at its heart is about child safety.”

He added: “It is widely supported by leading children’s charities and welfare organisations, as well as by the Scottish Police Federation who say it will ‘help keep children safer’, and has also been upheld by the highest court in Scotland, including a ruling which said the policy had ‘no effect whatsoever on the legal, moral or social relationships within the family’.”

Brought in as part of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act, the named person scheme 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 introduced to improve co-ordination among public bodies and to provide a security net for those at risk of abuse.

But over recent months critics have whipped up public fears, erroneously saying parents could be reported over parenting styles on minor issues such as bedroom decor.

As a result public opinion is nervous about the scheme with a poll conducted last month finding almost half of people in Scotland opposed it while less than a third were in favour.