Tories launch European manifesto

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The Conservatives want to cut EU 'red tape'

The Scottish Conservatives have made a pledge to "clean up" politics, at the launch of their Euro election campaign.

They said they were the only British party to publish detailed expenses online - and challenged political rivals to do the same.

The Conservatives also promised to cut the amount of red tape imposed by Europe on Scotland.

Scottish voters go to the polls to elect six MEPs in June, one fewer than in the last European Parliament.

The Tories launched their campaign in Peterhead - the UK's largest white fish port - urging the public: "Don't let Labour off the hook."

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Scottish Conservative European election manifesto [28KB]

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Scottish leader Annabel Goldie urged Gordon Brown to "find his political bottle" and call a general election.

She said: "We need long-term decisions on the economy not short-term panic measures, we need a leader who is in control not floundering from crisis to crisis, we need to restore trust in politicians and we need to give the people of Scotland a chance to have their say."

Scottish Tory European candidate Struan Stevenson added: "Conservatives want to see an end to the European gravy train.

"We have consistently voted against an EU budget that is wasteful and we want to save at least £1bn in EU spending.

"As MEPs, we must do our part to restore confidence in politics and politicians."