By Steve Bargeton, political editor

THE CONSERVATIVES became the first party to launch their election manifesto yesterday with party leader Michael Howard flying to Glasgow to deliver the Scottish version.

At the national football stadium at Hampden he spelled out his plans for a Tory Government, promising to reverse plans to merge Scotland’s six infantry regiments into a single regiment.

The Scottish manifesto pledges action to lower taxes, control immigration, strengthen defences, raise pensions and set a date for the European Constitution referendum within the first day of taking office.

However, the document is essentially the party’s UK manifesto, but with several references to Scottish policies, the overwhelming majority of which are matters for the devolved Executive, rather than Westminster.

Mr Howard said the manifesto set out the action Tories would take at Westminster if elected—and their priorities as they looked forward to the next Holyrood elections in 2007.

“We are campaigning on the issues that matter to the people of Britain and of Scotland,” he said.

“It’s perfectly true that if you look at three of our five commitments, they are matters which have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

“But we are looking forward, not only to the General Election, but to the next Holyrood election.

“Of course it will require a change in Scotland at the next Holyrood election to enable the Conservatives to deliver these priorities and commitments for the people of Scotland.

“But we are all Conservatives, we share the same values, and we know what needs to be done.

“Taking these two elections together, we Conservatives are convinced that we can deliver at Westminster and at Holyrood for the people of Scotland.”

Mr Howard’s theme for his Scottish audience was that the Tories were a changed party, a party that had learned the lessons of defeat at the polls, which had wiped them off the political map of Scotland.

“There was a time when I thought perhaps politicians were entitled to preach,” said Mr Howard. “But now I know that politicians ought to listen.

“When I was younger I probably was a bit more ideological. Now, as I have got a bit older, I am much more practical.”

Mr Howard accused Tony Blair and the Labour Party of taking Scotland for granted, and he said that the choice on May 5 was between the Tories and Labour.

“Some people may be thinking about voting Liberal Democrat or Scottish Nationalist,” he said.

“But no matter what you think of your local candidate, when you vote, you’re not just voting for someone to represent you locally, you’re voting for a national government.”

The Tory leader said that the coming election gave voters in Scotland the opportunity to say “enough is enough.”

“You can only do it by voting for your local Conservative candidate.”