One of Scottish Labour’s largest donors has left the party and declared that only Ruth Davidson can be trusted to safeguard the Union.

Alan Massie, who has given the party more than £400,000 over the past eight years, sponsored a fringe event at the Scottish Conservative conference last weekend, aimed at strengthening the case for Scotland remaining part of the UK. Mr Massie, a property tycoon who was among Labour’s top private British donors, said that no Labour representative had contacted him since he handed in his membership after three decades with the party.

Ms Davidson returned to Holyrood yesterday from six months of maternity leave after the birth of her son, Finn.

Mr Massie said: “Ruth Davidson in terms of central, middle-of-the-road stuff is