Ruth Davidson sets out Conservative plans to form "stronger opposition" at Holyrood

Ruth Davidson has launched the Scottish Tories' programme for a stronger opposition'' at Holyrood with a pledge that her party will staunchly oppose a second vote on independence.

The Scottish Conservative leader insisted there are no so-called indyref triggers that justify another referendum'', as her party's manifesto vowed to support afresh positive drive to promote the Union''.

The manifesto, published in the run up to the Scottish Parliament election, said the Conservatives would back the creation of a new UK-wide effort to promote the strengths and values of the Union''.

But she vowed this would not see the return of Project Fear'', as the campaign to keep Scotland in the UK in 2014 was dubbed.

The Tories are hoping to secure their best ever Holyrood election result on May 5, with Ms Davidson setting her sights on becoming the next leader of the opposition in the Scottish Parliament.

Polls show Nicola Sturgeon's SNP are on course for another majority, and Ms Davidson conceded: Folk aren't daft. They know the likelihood of me moving into Bute House (the First Minister's official residence) is next to nil.''

Instead, she said: I seek to lead a strong opposition to the SNP. And this manifesto today sets out how.So it isn't a programme for government - it is a programme for that strong opposition. It sets out how we intend to challenge the SNP in the event that they are returned for a third term in office.''

Ms Davidson said the Tories in opposition would set up their own panel of economic advisers to help them provide a counterweight'' to plans to increase income tax for Scots.

They would challenge the government to scrap the named-person scheme, and instead set up a new Crisis Family Fund in its place to provide early intervention to troubled families''.

Conservatives would also demand spending on the NHS rises by at least 2% a year, and press for an extra £300 million to be spent improving mental health services over the course of the next parliament.

The manifesto calls for 100,000 new homes to be built over the next five years, and for £1 billion to be spent improving energy efficiency so no-one has to live in a cold home.

But the manifesto stresses: To get better government, Scotland needs a strong opposition which will stand up against the SNP's drive for independence.''

Speaking at the launch in Glasgow, Ms Davidson said: Firstly we do not believe that there are any so-called 'indyref triggers' that justify another referendum - and that includes any hypothetical scenario resulting from June's EU decision.

And secondly, as our manifesto makes clear, we need to make the counter case to the SNP.'' While she said thisis not something that any party alone should undertake'', she added it is a task that as the principle opposition party we should be determined to shoulder''.

With First Minister Ms Sturgeon having already announced the SNP will stage a fresh bid to convince voters of the case for independence, Ms Davidson argued it is important that the clear pro-UK case is made as well''.

She said: Too often over recent years our case for the Union has simply been a matter of picking at the flaws of independence, of dissecting the numbers, rubbishing the projections or disputing proposals. Easy - but ultimately not enough.

Too often we have failed to make the case for why our family of nations works.

And the legacy from the referendum is that we on the pro-UK side have allowed 'No thanks' to be seen as a constant negative.

If we are to counter the SNP's misinformation, this must change. The case for independence is dead. The case for the Union must now be made.

And our aim must be clear - we want to listen, to learn and to convince people who voted to leave the United Kingdom that a Scotland within it can meet their aspirations and ambitions.''

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