McLetchie: man in command North of the Border

Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith has issued a rallying call to his Scottish members ahead of crucial elections next year.

Duncan Smith told a meeting of Conservative organisers, who will run the party's campaign for the local elections and Scottish parliament polls, that restoring fortunes North of the border was crucial to his strategy.

"I want Scotland to succeed because success in the British Isles without Scotland behind me is a hollow success indeed," he said.

"Let me tell you straight. There is nowhere in the United Kingdom that ranks as high as Scotland in my heart, my affections and my ambitions politically."

The party has just one MP in Scotland, having clawed the sole seat back in 2001 from a complete wipeout in 1997.

The election results in Scotland are linked to the Tory leader's future. If there are no signs of a significant revival in the Scottish parliament, Duncan Smith's opponents appear set to demand that he quits.

He urged supporters to "get behind" David McLetchie, the party's leader in the Scottish parliament, and admitted he was under pressure to achieve results.

"That is what is expected of the Conservative Party and nothing less will do," he said.

Duncan Smith warned delegates not to underestimate the task of turning the party around.

"There is a long way to the finish post. By way of success in Scotland, in the councils, down in Wales but we are going to get there," he said.

The election campaign would continue with Duncan Smith's focus on public service.

"We are going to let them know that people deserve better than they are getting. Better than a rotten government and a rotten administration in Scotland," he said.

"What have they done since they came into power? They have fiddled and they have meddled and they have attacked those who do not make up the majority."

"But nowhere have they improved the quality of life for people living I Scotland," he added.