Annabel Goldie, Scottish Conservatives' leader, yesterday consolidated her party's tough stance on crime by pledging to end the early release of prisoners.
Criticising Labour and the Liberal Democrats for their "soft" approach to sentencing during the last administration, Ms Goldie said she wanted "prisoners in prison, not convicts in the community."
Campaigning outside Glasgow's Barlinnie prison, she said: "The Lib-Lab pact and the SNP have supported the absurd system of early release from prison for eight years, and have now softened it even further. We will end it, once and for all."
The Tories have already promised to build another prison if they win power. Miss Goldie highlighted the party's three strikes and you're out" policy which would see any person sentenced to a third or more term to serve an additional period in jail.
She said: "We make no secret of the fact this policy will require more prison space. That's why we've set money aside in our budget to build it. Countries which jail more criminals have lower rates of crime. Scotland needs to stop pandering to prisoners."
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