Mr McCabe announced the U-turn

They were angry that the Executive had earlier ruled out the introduction of free personal care for all pensioners in Scotland.

Personal care covers things like washing and shopping and is seen as an important support mechanism to nursing care.

But Mr McCabe said: "The Executive will bring forward, as soon as practicable after consideration of the Development Groups Report in August 2001 proposals for the implementation of free personal care for all, along with an analysis of the costs and implications of so doing."

"We have taken cognisance of the views expressed yesterday and today, especially the sincerely held views of our colleagues in the Liberal Democrat and Labour parties."

Before he could get to his feet, opposition MSPs raised a barrage of points of order, all over-ruled, on whether he should be allowed to make his statement.

Immediately after his statement, Liberal MSPs applauded and thumped their desks in approval.

Nicola Sturgeon: "They have been humiliated"

Mike Rumbles, Lib Dem MSP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, later said he was "absolutely delighted" with the outcome.

He said: "The Labour party has understood the will of Parliament and has accepted it and that is great.

"The Liberal Democrats have been working for months and now we have finally achieved what we set out to achieve.

"This is a successful result for the members, for the Liberal Democrats and for the elderly folk of Scotland."

But the manner of the Executive's U-turn infuriated the Scottish National Party's health spokeswoman, Nicola Sturgeon.

She said: "This is absolutely disgraceful. The government has had three or four opportunities to clarify it's position but its taken until two minutes before the vote to do so.

Mike Rumbles: "A successful result"

"This is nothing short of a tragedy that the government has to be dragged kicking and screaming.

"This is a victory for elderly people but this government does not know what it is doing from one hour to the next - it's a government in disarray."

She added: "It has been humiliated in this chamber this afternoon."

David McLetchie, the Scottish Tories' leader, welcomed the statement.

But he added: "I do think that the Liberals have been bought off cheaply.

"If you look at the motion we were going to be voting on, it calls for not only an unequivocal commitment but saw a definite timetable for implementation.

The Lib Dems were delighted

"I do not think that Mr McCabe's motion came forward with a definite timetable for implementation."

First Minister Henry McLeish refused to answer questions as he emerged from the Chamber after Mr McCabe's announcement.

Deputy first minister Jim Wallace said it was "a satisfactory outcome", but refused to be drawn on his role in securing the about face.

Fellow Lib Dem, Donald Gorrie, the MSP for Central Scotland, said that eight meetings of the party's parliamentary group had taken place over the last two days.

He said the Lib Dem ministers had lead talks with Labour ministers and had brought back a new proposal to each of the meetings.

He said the final statement was not agreed until late on Thursday afternoon and the decision to read it out before the vote was not made until the "last minute".