THE SCOTTISH Tories are to concentrate on issues devolved to the Scottish Parliament in their bid to win seats at Westminster at the general election expected in May, writes Steve Bargeton, political editor.

At the launch of their election campaign in Edinburgh yesterday the party highlighted five main policy areas—three of which are entirely powers devolved to Holyrood.

They plan to campaign on school discipline, council tax and hospital waiting times in Scotland—issues on which Scottish MPs at Westminster have no say.

Of the other two themes, law and order is largely devolved and immigration is reserved.

Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie said he made no apologies for concentrating on devolved issues which the electorate will not vote on again until May 2007.

“We are campaigning vigorously on the issues that really matter to people in Scotland,” he said.

“The Scottish Conservatives are the only party which can take action on these issues.

“Labour have been all talk, we have had eight years of broken promises as services have declined.

“The Lib Dems have backed them every step of the way as part of the coalition, and the SNP offers no alternative policies.”

Under the election slogan “Are you thinking what we’re thinking,” the message on law and order is: “If you do the crime, you should do the time, not half the time.”

On education the message is: “Kids should be expelled for attacking teachers—it’s as simple as that,” while on local government it is: “My council tax goes up and all I get is a wheelie bin.”

On health the message is: “Labour promised us shorter hospital queues, we’re still waiting,” while on immigration it is: “It’s not racist to impose limits on immigration.”

At present the Tories have just one MP north of the border, shadow Scottish secretary Peter Duncan in Galloway and Upper Nithsdale. He won the seat in 2001 with a majority of 74 over the SNP.

However, with boundary changes reducing the number of Scottish MPs from 72 to 59, the Tories have notionally no seats.

Not surprisingly yesterday the party was making no predictions, but claimed that even returning one MP to Westminster in May would be “progress.”

Mr Duncan confirmed a Tory government would make significant efficiency savings south of the border but not in Scotland.

He said that he had a firm commitment from shadow chancellor Oliver Letwin that Scotland’s block budget would stay at the levels announced by Labour for the next three years.

He said that meant Scots would benefit from UK-wide tax cuts while keeping the same slice of the public spending cake.

“We have the commitment that the Scottish block grant will be identical under Oliver Letwin as it is under Gordon Brown,” Mr Duncan said.

“So there are no public sector cuts in Scotland. We are getting the best of both worlds. This is great news for Scotland.”