Conservatives 'still right wing'

He also questioned whether the party had changed since Tory leader David Cameron became leader last December.

Sir Menzies said Labour and the Tories were essentially "disputing about management" but the Liberal Democrats were "values and principles based".

He made the comments in an interview with the ePolitix.com website.

"As an occasional Presbyterian I know that 'by thee works thou shall know them' is true," said Sir Menzies.

"It's not what people say that matters it is what they do and how they vote."

And, in a scathing attack on the Conservative leader, he went on: "Who drafted the Conservative manifesto of 2005? It was David Cameron.

"And most people consider it to be one of the most right-wing, unpleasant documents since 1945 and I don't think the party has really changed.

"At its core it is still right-wing and unpleasant."

The Lib Dem leader said his party offered "timeless values" that had "stood the test of time and critical judgment", in contrast to their main rivals.

"I want our party to be the party of ideas and I want people to be willing and able to indulge in fresh thinking," he said.

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