The ordinary people of Scotland were invited yesterday by Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar to help run the country.

Launching his Democratising Scotland initiative, the Scottish Secretary promised to end party political patronage in public life and to give a role to men and women beyond the political elite.

He described his initiative - first reported exclusively two weeks ago in The Herald - as the latest phase in the modernising of Scottish government.

''We promised not just to change the government of Scotland but also to change the way Scotland is governed,'' Mr Dewar told a news conference.

But he frowned disapprovingly at suggestions that New Labour was simply clearing out Tory placemen and women after more than a decade of complaining about quangos and Conservative-supporting appointees, and replacing them with Labour supporters. He dismissed such suggestions as a misplaced ''perception''.

In the coming year, more than 300 public appointments will be made by the Scottish Secretary of which 180 will be in paid posts. They will be the first batch of 4074 appointments to be reviewed on more than 200 Scottish quangos. Most of the later appointments will require the approval of the Scottish Parliament which will have power to reduce the number of quangos.

Mr Dewar said the Government had set itself the target of putting women in half the appointments to public bodies and 35% of chairmanships also going to women by 2001.

Under the new system candidates can apply or be recommended by friends for jobs on Government bodies. The Scottish Office recruitment campaign makes clear: ''No public sector experience, no political aspirations, no friends in high places - you're the perfect candidate for a public board post.''

The Scottish Secretary said more than nine out of 10 current appointees were chosen before Lord Nolan began enforcing more openness in public life.

''Although many individuals have done valuable work, their efforts have been undermined by the methods of their appointment which are too open to accusations of patronage.

''Nolan went a long way to introducing greater fairness. But today I want to go farther by opening the doors to Scotland's unelected public bodies - I want to draw from the best talent that our country can offer and that means anyone can apply,'' Mr Dewar said.

The central aim was to recruit more young people and more women and to increase representation from ethnic minorities and the disabled. ''People should not be frightened to apply - just because they might not have formal qualifications does not mean they have no contribution to make,'' Mr Dewar said.

Lord Nolan will produce lists of names after scrutiny for Ministers.

''Political allegiances will be no concern of mine,'' Mr Dewar said, although he made clear that ''active'' political considerations would be taken into account by Lord Nolan. In principle, individuals serving two terms on a public body will not be asked a third time although there could be exceptions, Mr Dewar said.

q Details can be obtained from the Government on freephone 08000 274727 or from Freepost Changing Scotland.