Scottish National Party Leader John Swinney has launched a broadside at his critics during a speech to activists.

Mr Swinney said attacks on his leadership would not distract him from his goal of achieving Scottish independence.

The nationalist leader sought to refocus attention on policy after being criticised for a lacklustre performance in the Scottish Parliament during its sitting in Aberdeen this week.

Half of his party's MSPs failed to turn up to hear his speech on the Scottish Executive's legislative programme and some of his colleagues questioned his performance in the parliamentary chamber.

They can act like a gaggle of geese, they can shout and roar and barrack - they can do what they like

John Swinney

In Perth on Saturday, Mr Swinney referred to the criticism he had received but stressed that this just served to strengthen his conviction to win freedom for Scotland.

He rounded on the Labour and Liberal Democrat ruling coalition in particular.

Mr Swinney said: "The so-called governing parties attempted to shout me down as I spoke up for Scotland.

"Well I have news for Labour and the Liberals. They can act like a gaggle of geese, they can shout and roar and barrack - they can do what they like.

"They can fight over the last pathetic spoils of the Union but the facts are the facts. They can't deliver the real change for Scotland that the people of Scotland want."

John Swinney castigated his critics

Labour, said Mr Swinney, was funded by "pornographers, run by cronies and more interested in power than people".

Mr Swinney said his party would sweep to victory in the 2003 Scottish parliamentary elections and he then set out the SNP's policy priorities for the coming months.

These included a repeat of the SNP pledge to abolish private public partnerships in NHS projects.

Mr Swinney also promised that the SNP would "put patients first", would publish key performance indicators for hospitals and "restore local democracy" to health boards.

Business rates

The SNP leader promised to cut class sizes to 18 in the early years of school and he said there would be an emphasis on helping businesses to create jobs, coupled with a cut in business rates.

He pledged the creation of a "route development fund" to improve air links and the transformation of tourism body visitscotland into a "world class" body.

The nationalist leader also repeated his commitment to tackling youth crime.

Underlying all of Scotland's problems, said Mr Swinney was his desire to bring about fundamental changes.

He told party members: "The people of Scotland deserve the best. The best is the historic prize of independence."