Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has insisted the majority of Scots agree with her party on the “big issues” as she pledged an overhaul of elected representatives north of the border.
In a passionate closing speech to the party’s conference in Edinburgh, Ms Davidson highlighted a number of policies she said were backed by the electorate but unveiled another that came in for criticism.
She said the Tories would scrap free prescriptions in order to fund 1,000 extra nurses and midwives in the NHS if elected at Holyrood.
Despite that being slammed by the SNP, she insisted her party was on the side of voters in areas the Scottish Government was not.
She cited the independence referendum, welfare reforms, economic austerity, immigration limits and European reforms as where people agree with her party as she advocated further tax cuts and smaller Government.
Ms Davidson said: “I’m here to tell you that on the big issues facing our country the Conservatives stand four square with the people of Scotland.”
The leader added: “I am changing the face of this party and in so doing I am changing the faces of this party.”
Under the Conservatives’ prescription policy the new charge in Scotland would be £6.85.
A party spokesman said the potential exemption for people suffering from long- term conditions such as asthma and cystic fibrosis would be considered.
In her speech Ms Davidson said: “For people who’re earning, who are overwhelmingly happy to make their contribution, they will know that their small sum will make a world of difference in wards across the country.”
However, Health Secretary Alex Neil said: “The Tories claim they want the power to cut tax but the only policy they have is to reintroduce a health tax on 600,000 people.”