Cameron: we are the party with a proper plan

He told his audience at the Emirates Arena in the city's east end that the Tories are "the party with a plan that is turning Scotland around".

He said: "Job creation is soaring, more people are striding into work, industries are growing, last year we were the fastest growing major economy in the developed world.

"This isn't a plan that is happening somewhere else or to someone else, it is happening right here in Scotland."

Speaking ahead of Scottish party leader Ruth Davidson, Mr Cameron said: "Conservatives are not just about balancing the books, we are head, heart and soul passionate about helping people get on in life, passionate about our United Kingdom, and I am proud to stand alongside her (Ms Davidson) and proud of how she is leading the Scottish Conservatives today."

He continued: "This is what the Conservatives are showing in Scotland. We are the party of real devolution, the party of a strong union and the party with a proper plan."

Ms Davidson said the policies in the Scottish Conservative manifesto reflect a party that is "on the up" and on the side of the "quiet majority" of Scots.

The Tories want to reintroduce the right to buy for social housing tenants in Scotland, after the system was scrapped by the SNP at Holyrood.

They also pledged to create an extra 10,000 apprenticeships a year than at present. The Scottish Government is exceeding its target by creating more than 25,000 of the training places this year.

Prescription charges, which have been abolished north of the border by the SNP, would be brought back for "those who can afford to pay them", with the cash raised being used to fund 1,000 extra nurses for Scottish hospitals.

While English MPs would be given a veto on policies that only apply south of the border, a Conservative government would introduce a new Scotland Bill in the first session of the new parliament in a bid to further extend Holyrood's powers.

That would give the Scottish Parliament new powers over income tax, making MSPs responsible for raising some of the cash they spend rather than solely relying on the block grant from Westminster.

Ms Davidson said: "There is nothing socially fair about a system that says a first minister should get their prescriptions for free when our hospitals are understaffed, and that's why we would use the money for 1,000 more nurses.

"We can and we must do better than this.

"We have to have a long hard look at Scotland's spending priorities, and urgently because pretty soon it will be funded directly from Scotland's pay packets.

"This manifesto includes our plan to transfer tax powers to the Scottish Parliament with a Bill in the very first Queen's Speech.

"It heralds a radical new era for Scotland, a new era at the Scottish Parliament where MSPs will need to show not just how they spend money but how they raise it too.

"Where a first minister and a finance minister have to look taxpayers in the eye before they dip into their pockets.

"It is a more powerful Scottish Parliament, but one still anchored and rooted in the United Kingdom.

"And when those new powers do come, I can tell you this. There is only one party that will put taxpayers first, and that is the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party."

Overall she said the policies in the manifesto "show how we Scottish Conservatives are the ones taking the moderate centre ground and sensible path".

Ms Davidson said this path is "one that rejects the nationalist obsession which decrees that whatever the question the answer is always separation" but is also "one which looks at the wreckage of a once proud Labour Party and can barely remember what it stood for".

The Tories north of the border are "on the up" and a "party that is serious about Scotland with a plan that is onside with the quiet majority of this land", she added.

While there are no university tuition fees north of the border for Scottish students, the Conservatives want to introduce a graduate contribution which would help bring about "a fairer balance between the taxpayer and the graduate when it comes to university tuition".

Another manifesto pledge is to reduce the spread of onshore wind farms, by ending any new public subsidies for them and giving local communities the final say on such developments.

Ms Davidson said: "Let me assure you, this Scottish Conservative Party is serious about Scotland.

"We decry the soggy centre-left consensus and, yes, we do do things a different way.

"But we are cowed no more, and we are willing to challenge and to fight for a better deal for working Scotland.

"And our opponents better be looking over their shoulders, because we are coming for the SNP and we are coming for Labour."

Labour's shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran said: "Ruth Davidson repeated her party's threat to exclude Scottish MPs from votes on the income tax, betraying the promises made in the Smith Agreement to the Scottish people.

"We've known for a long time the Tories are out of touch with Scotland but now even Scottish Tories want to keep Scotland's voice out of key parts of the UK budget.

"How can you trust anything the Tories say now about protecting Scotland when they are setting out to break up the UK income tax system?

"Pooling and sharing resources across the UK is fundamental to Barnett continuing. Only Labour guarantees this."

Scottish Liberal Democrat party president Sir Malcolm Bruce said: "There might be three horses at this election - the Scottish Liberal Democrats, the SNP, and the Scottish Tories at the knackers.

"But in each of our 11 held seats people will be in no doubt that it is a two horse race between the Liberal Democrats and the SNP.

"The best way for people to stop the SNP in each of these seats is to pick the winning horse - the Liberal Democrats."