Howard: North of the border

Tory leader Michael Howard has hit the campaign trail in Scotland, where he warned that Tony Blair cannot be trusted to preserve Britain's defences.

Howard began the day in Edinburgh, where he faced questions from the Scottish press, before heading to Staffordshire and London.

Speaking to journalists, Howard said the prime minister could not be trusted on a range of issues including tax and the future of the Scottish regiments.

"Scotland is rightly proud of her regiments – their history, traditions and, above all, the courage and bravery of their soldiers," he said.

"But Mr Blair does not share that pride. He has sent Scottish regiments into battle, only to tell them that they will be disbanded. What a stab in the back."

Extending his assault, Howard said the prime minister had repeatedly misled the Scottish people.

"Hard-working Scots have had their taxes put up 66 times. That's 66 broken promises Mr Blair," said the Tory leader.

"Mr Blair always says one thing before an election and does another thing after it."

Poll push

The push comes amid mounting fears that the Scottish Conservatives may be facing a total wipeout north of the border.

Following a boundary review, the Conservatives go into the election notionally holding no seats.

That means they effectively have to make gains from either Labour, the Liberal Democrats or the SNP to gain a presence on the political map.

The Scottish Tories and the SNP are slugging it out to take second place in terms of national vote share.

And while the Conservatives may win on that index, the party could still be left with no seats.

In target seats - which include Angus, Ochil and South Perthshire, Perth and North Perthshire, and Dumfries and Galloway - both the nationalists and the Conservatives are fighting on a 'save the regiments' ticket.

The Conservatives are also challenging the SNP's claim to be the 'party of Scotland'.

Shadow Scotland secretary Peter Duncan, who accompanied Howard this morning, said his party will see off the SNP.

"The wholesale destruction of Scotland’s proud and historic Scottish regiments is an act of betrayal by Labour," he said.

"I am delighted that the SNP has joined the campaign, but they must face up to the simple truth that, whilst they can stand in this election, they can’t deliver.

"The Conservatives are Scotland's true national party. The SNP cannot save our regiments because they cannot form a UK government."