Cameron to tell delegates party can build support in Scotland

DAVID CAMERON was today addressing the Scottish Conservative conference in Ayr just hours after the party's by-election victory.

And he was expected to tell delegates the Tories are well placed to build support in Scotland, where there is currently only one Tory MP.

Mr Cameron was also expected to endorse the strategy adopted by the Tories in the Scottish Parliament of working with the SNP government on certain issues.

But in an interview ahead of the conference, he warned the Nationalists against using the prospect of a Tory government at Westminster to further their cause of independence.

He said: "If Alex Salmond thinks there's some clever game he can play about building on Scottish resentment against a Conservative government in England to help break up the Union, forget it."

Mr Cameron also said the Barnett formula, which helps decide Scotland's share of UK spending, could not last for ever, but indicated a cautious approach. He said: "If we replace the Barnett formula with a needs-based formula, Scotland has very great needs and Scotland will get very great resources."

And on the question of more powers for Holyrood, he said: "We need to find a comfortable resting place where people feel comfortable that devolution can work and the Union can work."