Howard hails 'caring' Tories

Tories were told they could make a difference

The Tories have been demonstrating that they are the true caring party, according to Shadow Home Secretary Michael Howard.

Mr Howard told the Scottish Tories annual conference in Perth that the party was already "getting back in touch" with people's priorities.

He said: "That means showing how we can provide better hospitals, better schools, better transport.

Michael Howard rounded on opponents

"It means extending a voice to the vulnerable, and opportunity to those who have been left behind.

"It means making a real and practical difference to the lives of everyone in our communities."

Mr Howard told activists: "Your task and mine, and the task of everyone who speaks for our party, is to show how we are getting back in touch with the people of Scotland and England alike."

He said the aim was to "make a real difference" to the lives of the people of Britain.

Mr Howard also launched an attack on Chancellor Gordon Brown's 10% supplementary tax on North Sea oil profits, announced in his recent Budget.

He said: "Chancellors come and chancellors go, but investment decisions last for decades.

Enterprise networks

"A chancellor on the lookout for new taxes to fill a black hole in his finances should recognise that this decision will have an effect for years to come.

"The industry has warned some new fields on the margin may not now proceed, and that the tax could deter long term investment."

He was replying to a conference debate on the economy.

Transport spokesman David Mundell said the party would transfer some of the money allocated to Scotland's enterprise networks to road building.

He said the Scots Tories were committed to completing from public funds the "missing links" in Scotland's trunk roads - the A8, A80, A8000, A75, and the Aberdeen relief road, as well as other projects.