The Tories are on track for their best ever Holyrood result, Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson has forecast as she announced plans for a new "carer's allowance".
Ms Davidson said last year's independence referendum had put the soul back into Scottish Conservatives as Labour faces disarray and the Liberal Democrats dissolve.
And she vowed to tackle the "myths" of the SNP's governing prowess and to take on "an administration increasingly defined by cronyism and incompetence".
Answering questions following a speech on the fringe of the Tory party conference in Manchester, Ms Davidson said: "I don't make predictions at elections, I never have. I've never been drawn on the numbers of seats we will have. But I have made a prediction on this one.
"I believe we are on course for returning the largest number of MSPs since devolution began. That is the challenge I have laid down to my candidates."
Asked if the Tories can overhaul Labour in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Davidson said: "That's not what I want to measure the party against going into this election."
And she quipped: "I have no control over what happens to the Scottish Labour Party - the Scottish Labour Party appear to have no control over what happens to the Scottish Labour Party."
The Scottish Tory leader said around a quarter of her supporters had voted tactically in May but said the list system for Holyrood would allow the party to maximise its support.
In her speech to Tory activists, she said her campaign could be boiled down to two sentences.
She said: "We, the Scottish Conservatives, will speak for the two million Scots who want to keep our country part of the UK.
"And we, the Scottish Conservatives, will always stand up for families wanting to get by and get on."
Ms Davidson outlined a new promise to Scottish voters that she would increase the carer's allowance to the same level as job seekers' allowance.
She said: "Nobody becomes a full-time carer because of money - they do it out of love - but as well as our recognition and our thanks, they deserve a little extra help and I want to make sure they get it.
"That's the kind of practical plan I want to champion at this election and I look forward to the day when we can finally start debating issues like this in Holyrood.
"I look forward to some grown-up politics."
Ms Davidson condemned First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for ignoring the day-to-day concerns of Scots.
She said: "Two weeks ago, Nicola Sturgeon could simply have used the first anniversary of the referendum to repeat her own words and accept there would be no re-run for a generation.
"Instead, she only added to the fears of employers in Scotland who are telling me week in, week out that speculation of another referendum is damaging their ability to expand.
"It's not good enough. The failure of the SNP to rule out a re-run of last year's referendum is impacting on Scotland's investment and jobs.
"Nicola Sturgeon needs to remember she isn't the First Minister for the SNP, she's First Minister for Scotland.
"Scotland wants to get on. And every Scottish Conservative vote next May is a personal demand that we do just that."
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