Duncan: Making Tory case

Scotland should fear a further five years of Labour administration, the Conservatives have said.

As the Scottish Tories head into the election with effectively no seats, the party is facing a tough task in reversing the decline seen over recent years.

Peter Duncan, who is the sole Tory MP in Scotland, said the Conservatives are ready to go on the attack as May 5 approaches.

Scotland is fighting the election along new boundaries and Duncan himself faces a challenge in unseating neighbouring MP Russell Brown.

"Scotland needs to change direction, and it has a chance to do it on May 5. The choice is clear," said Duncan.

Despite fears that the party could fail to make progress, Duncan said the "the people of Scotland are ready to make that choice".

"The last eight years of Labour in government have been eight years of failure for the people of Scotland. All over the country today, I want Scots to think long and hard and imagine five more years of Labour," he added.

"There are over 270,000 failed asylum seekers living in Britain who shouldn’t be here. And the average family pays £5,000 more every year in tax than they did in 1997, with council tax up an astonishing 55 per cent.

"The people of Scotland will fear another 5 years of Labour."