THE Scottish Liberal Democrats yesterday prophesied a ''Canadian

effect'' that could wipe out the Conservatives at regional level and

reduce them to a rump in the British Euro-seats.

Launching the agenda for their spring conference in Pitlochry next

week they claimed they would overhaul the Scottish Conservatives in

numbers of regional seats won.

Scottish president Sir Russell Johnston, said: ''There is no doubt

that the Tories are profoundly unpopular and a lot of voters will see

these elections as a good opportunity to give them a sound kick in an

appropriate place.''

On European results he predicted in Scotland it was possible they

could produce ''the biggest surprise in the whole of Britain'' with

candidate Hamish Morrison, unseating the SNP's Madame Ecosse, Mrs

Winifred Ewing, from her Highlands and Islands seat.

Opinion polls and personal soundings indicated the Liberal Democrats

were likely to win the Eastleigh parliamentary by-election and he was

sure they could pick up at least two South-west of England Euro-seats in

Cornwall and at Devon and Somerset.

He added: ''We are being cautious but we are definitely going to win

two and we may get a Canadian effect.''

In last year's Canadian General Election then Conservative Prime

Minister Kim Campbell saw her party tumble from 156 seats to two, to

give the Liberals power.

In the most recent System Three poll for The Herald the Scottish

Conservative plummeted to a 20-year low at 13%, in fourth place overall

and 34 points behind Labour. They hold none of the eight Scottish

Euro-seats.

Agreeing with Sir Russell's assessment, Scottish convener Sandra

Grieve said:

''I think the Scottish Conservatives are looking at wipe out regarding

the regional elections.''