The Scottish Conservatives leader, Ruth Davidson, has raised eyebrows by posting a picture of the actor Gillian Anderson in lingerie on social media.

Davidson, 38, posted the image of the X-Files star on Twitter before going on holiday for two weeks:

Right, I'm off for a fortnight. In the mean time, here's @GillianA just sitting round the house in stilettos & seamed stockings. As you do. pic.twitter.com/FMLgrqfmBB — Ruth Davidson (@RuthDavidsonMSP) June 30, 2017

The post, which has been liked more than 3,000 times, prompted debate between some Twitter users, including the SNP’s MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, James Dornan, who called Davidson an “eejit”.

Did people really vote for you😳. Eejit — James Dornan SNP (@glasgowcathcart) June 30, 2017

Some questioned whether the tweet would have been acceptable for a male politician to send.

She rocks? By objectifying a women? What is wrong with people? What would you have said if a male politician signed off like this? — Notorious (@notoriousbigip) June 30, 2017

Others backed Davidson, with one user commenting “you rock” and another saying: “Oh it was just a joke. Don’t be so sour.”

Ruth. You rock. 💃 — Meg Fowler (@tuppermeg) June 30, 2017

Oh it was just a joke. Don't be so sour. If Alex Salmond signed off leaving a pic of George Clooney to admire I'd be impressed. — Whitehorses (@pinkmonkeygin) June 30, 2017

The tweet comes after Davidson, who is gay, publicly challenged the Democratic Unionist party to drop its opposition to gay marriage, the Scotsman reported, revealing that she has personally lobbied the party’s leader, Arlene Foster.

Last month, Davidson said she had received assurances from the prime minister over gay rights before the Tories agreed their deal with the DUP.