By Steve Bargeton, political editor

THE SCOTTISH Tories became the first of the parties to launch their manifesto for the Holyrood election yesterday with a pledge to fight crime and tackle drugs.

Leader Annabel Goldie also ruled out entering into a coalition with any other parties after the vote on May 3.

There had been speculation the Tories might support a unionist “rainbow coalition” to keep the SNP out of power.

But Ms Goldie made it clear yesterday they believe coalition government has not been good for Scotland.

“Our manifesto policy commitments are not for sale in any post-election horse-trading process since other parties can cobble up deals behind closed doors,” she said.

“The Scottish Conservatives will enter into no pacts and no coalitions.”

“We will operate on an issue-by-issue, case-by-case basis and do what’s right for Scotland.

“Coalition has failed Scotland. I think what we’ve seen is eight years of fudge, compromise, dodging issues and frankly reducing everything to the lowest common political denominator.

“That has failed Scotland. I think it’s time for a fresh approach.”

Overall the Tories plan to spend hundreds of millions of pounds more each year, if they win power, by cutting existing budgets.

An additional £240 million would be spent each year tackling drugs and crime, with £35 million for recruiting 1500 extra police officers on the beat and £25 million to build a new prison.

A new Scottish Skills Agency would cost £148 million, and £15 million has been set aside to fund the scrapping of tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges.

The main losers under Tory plans would be Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise which would see £413 million cut from their annual budget, while the mutualisation of Scottish Water will also save £190 million a year.

The party also backed an alternative proposal for the Edinburgh Airport rail link, avoiding a controversial tunnel option under the runway which would save £119 million from the project’s £610 million budget.

Communities Scotland would be scrapped, saving £25 million, with cuts across Scottish Executive departments and other budgets making up the remainder of the savings.

The Tories promise more power for local communities with a review of Scottish local government to “pass power back to the people” and councils given the freedom to spend budgets as they wish without ring-fencing.

The date of local authority elections would be moved to keep them apart from the Holyrood elections.

The Tories say they would look at reducing the number of MSPs from the current 129 to 108, saving £3 million.

Some £100 million a year would be invested in an affordable homes trust to help prospective homeowners.

The Tories support the retention of council tax, but would cut the bills for pensioner households in half, in addition to existing discounts.

An “eco bonus scheme” would provide grants for households, communities and small businesses to install modern energy-saving and creating devices, such as wind turbines.

On law and order, the Tories would bring in directly-elected police board conveners and a “three strikes and you’re out” policy would hand extra jail time to those about to receive their third custodial sentence.

There would be a review of the bail system and Scotland’s “double jeopardy” law which allows suspects to be tried more than once for the same crime would be ended.

Sheriffs and judges would be given powers to deduct fines from salaries and benefits to keep fine defaulters from being jailed.

Sex offenders would be given lie detector (polygraph) tests and monitored by satellite tracking.

On transport there is a pledge to investigate high-speed rail links between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and Scotland and London, with a report delivered to Holyrood and Westminster by 2009.

Tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges would be scrapped.

The party opposes the introduction of additional road-charging schemes.

An additional £30 million would be made available to upgrade the A9, A75, A82, A96 and there is a commitment to a £15 million-a-year programme to improve “accident blackspot” roads.

On the economy, Scottish Water would be mutualised as a not-for-dividend company, with all profits reinvested to improve infrastructure.

Scottish Enterprise would merge with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and local enterprise companies would be scrapped giving almost £60m every year to local authorities.

The Scottish Skills Agency, to oversee modern apprenticeships and skillseekers, would be set up and £150 million a year would reduce rates on small and medium-sized businesses.

There is also a commitment to a £20 million town centre regeneration fund.

All major Holyrood legislation would face a five-year “sub set clause” to prove it has worked before being renewed, and there would be a review of red tape.

Also, £5 million grant aid to encourage new blood into farming would be introduced.

On education, head teachers would be given control on governance, discipline and setting classes based on pupil standards.

Parents would be given choice on having their children placed in mainstream or specialist education.

A £5 million annual fund would be set up to protect rural schools earmarked for closure, where closure is opposed by pupils, parents and teachers.

On health, the Tories promised an immediate review of NHS 24 which would also look into alternatives, including clinician-led local centres.

A “money-follows-patient” system would allow patients to choose from a “menu” of hospitals to perform medical procedures with the costs funded by the Government and based on a national tariff scheme.

Some £10 million a year is promised to train dental hygienists to therapist level, to allow them to perform treatment on children and use mobile units to check youngsters’ teeth.