Charles Kennedy has vowed to campaign on "principles and values" at the upcoming general election.

Addressing his party's Scottish conference in Perth, he said negative campaigning damaged people's faith in politics and the Lib Dems would take the high ground.

Calling Labour's record in government "authoritarian" he received a standing ovation for a speech that signals an effective start to Liberal Democrat campaigning.

"I am convinced that our party works best, communicates best, and achieves most when it acts confidently and independently," Kennedy added.

"That is why we go into this general election campaign as an independent party.

"We will campaign through this general election as an independent party.

"And we will come out the other side of this general election, into the next House of Commons, whatever the outcome of the election, as a continuing, functioning, independent Liberal Democrat party.

"We are not going to have our message, our principles, or our priorities distracted in any sense by noises off elsewhere in the political spectrum."

Kennedy's speech comes after a third poll in a week appeared show the party making no headway against Labour and the Conservatives.

The Lib Dem leader will be hoping that his address to the party faithful in Scotland gives his campaign a boost

'Vote Lib Dem get Tory'

A spokesman for the Scottish Labour Party responded to the speech by saying that a "vote for small parties like the Liberal Democrats will help Michael Howard into power".

"The choice at the next election is between Michael Howard and his Thatcherite agenda or a Labour Party committed to investment in public services and a rising minimum wage," he added.

"If you go to bed with the Liberal Democrats, you could wake up with Michael Howard."

'Vote Lib Dem get Labour'

In contrast, SNP leader Alex Salmond said a vote for the Liberal Democrats would deliver a Labour government

Salmond said: "A vote for the Liberals in the general election is just another vote for Labour.

"With Jim Wallace no more than Jack McConnell's puppet at Holyrood, voters in Scotland know that they just cannot trust the Liberals to stand up for Scotland's interests either in Edinburgh or London.

"All this adds up to show that if Scotland matters to you, you can’t vote for the Liberal Democrats in May. Only the SNP can deliver a consistent and principled alternative to Labour and the Tories in Scotland."