The SNP has kicked off its campaign for the 2003 Scottish parliament election by calling on Scots to "release their potential".

Ahead of the SNP party conference, which begins on Wednesday, the party said it was seeking to raise support for national independence.

Party chief John Swinney, whose leadership has come under fire over recent months, said the SNP was a "credible party for power".

"Within our busy agenda we will be discussing some of our main policies including, justice, education, health, the economy, and Scotland's public services," he said.

The party is introducing a new slogan as well as a new colour - heather - for the 2003 campaign.

"'Release our potential' is simple and it means independence," Swinney said.

The SNP leader also said he was mounting a renewed effort to win the trust and confidence of the Scottish people.

"It taps into the feeling that Scotland isn't a bad place to be, in fact it is a great place to live, but it could be so much better," he said.

"And it shows we have everything we need to make our society the best possible," added Swinney.

But critics of the SNP leader say he has failed to capitalise on Labour's problems in the Scottish executive and suggest he has not made enough progress to convince voters to back independence in next May's election.

They are hoping he will use this week's party conference to launch a concerted campaign against the Labour-Liberal coalition.