David McLetchie galvanised his troops

The Scottish Tory party leader told delegates at their spring conference that voters had been let down by the Scottish Executive and they had the chance to vote for change in the elections on 1 May.

Mr McLetchie said key issues for the voters include the performance of the criminal justice system and public services, the future of the fishing industry and the growing crisis in pensions.

"These are issues that really matter to Scotland and I am determined that our party will speak up for them," he told delegates at the conference in Glasgow University.

We need a clear and unequivocal support for a zero tolerance approach which tackles crime at its roots David McLetchie

"People are looking for an alternative.

"We've had four years of Liberal Democrat and Labour government here in Scotland - six years of Labour government in the UK as a whole - and what's there to show for it? Precious little.

"There is no disguising the disillusionment and disappointment felt by many people.

"But let us be very clear who is to blame. It's Labour and their Liberal Democrat allies."

Moving to crime Mr McLetchie pledged a move to a zero tolerance policy to tackle what he called the disorder and menace of crime and drugs that blighted communities.

"We need a clear and unequivocal support for a zero tolerance approach which tackles crime at its roots, challenging the graffiti and the vandalism and the sheer robbery that undermines communities, saps the human spirit," he said.

The Tory leader outlined his priorities

The Tory leader called for more police on the streets, accountable policing plans, more places in secure accommodation for persistent young offenders and more prison places.

"Prison works, it protects the public, it deters criminal behaviour," he said.

On health, Mr McLetchie warned that the NHS was not delivering.

He said: "Taxes up, spending up, treatments down and patients have to wait for longer on longer waiting lists, up by 19,000 patients since 1999."

On education he vowed to give patients a choice, expanding specialist secondary schools and giving schools powers to develop in their own way.

He also called for schoolchildren to be allowed to move to further education colleges at age 14.

"We need a lot more plumbers and joiners in Scotland and far fewer graduates in media studies," he said.