A leading Tory has relaunched his attempt to move British time forward by an hour, using his high position in the ballot for private members' bills at Westminster and risking renewed opposition from Scotland.

A leading Tory has relaunched his attempt to move British time forward by an hour, using his high position in the ballot for private members' bills at Westminster and risking renewed opposition from Scotland.

Tim Yeo, the South Suffolk MP, says he gained momentum for the cause with his Energy Saving (Daylight) Bill last year.

The legislation would provide a three-year trial of moving clocks forward throughout the year. This would synchronise Britain with western Europe.

Winter mornings would be darker and night would fall later, with claimed benefits in road safety.

The most vocal opposition has come from northern Scotland, where the change would mean children going to school before dawn in winter. But Mr Yeo claims to have the answer for this, by giving the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies, the opportunity to retain current times.

The Tory MP claims there is substantial public support for the change. "In addition to the extra evidence of the energy saving benefits, and not forgetting the high number of lives that will be saved on the roads, I am looking for cross-party support for a trial period of three years," he said.

Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, said Mr Yeo should visit his constituency in December.

He said: "Policy-makers in London are a little remote from the realities of children going to school in the darkness and coming home in the darkness, and people who do not have occupations which are in comfy, warm, well-lit offices."