RUTH Davidson faced a furious onslaught from opponents over the UK Government's move to delay Clyde warship contracts, as the party leaders clashes during the final televised debate of the election campaign.

The Scots Conservative leader struggled to defend the delay, which emerged last week, as Nicola Sturgeon, Kezia Dugdale and Willie Rennie all called on the Ministry of Defence to begin work on the Navy's eight new frigates immediately.

Ms Davidson accused the SNP leader of a "shameful attempt" to scare workers at BAE's Clyde yards and insisted the plans had not been altered.

Referring to 2014's independence referendum, she told Ms Sturgeon: "If you'd had your way 18 months ago, none of these ships would have been built."

But Ms Sturgeon said delays to the contracts were an "absolute betrayal".

HER comments were backed by Scottish Labour leader Ms Dugdale, who told the audience at Hopetoun House near South Queensferry: "Ruth has told a porky. The decision needs to be reviewed to honour the pledge that was made during the referendum."

Willie Rennie, the Scots LibDem leader, also said Ms Davidson was "not quite telling the truth".

The angry clashes came in response to a question asked by a member of the audience who was a Clyde welder.

Work on the first of the eight Type 26 frigates was due to begin now but has been put back to December next year.

Unions have threatened to hold up work on the Navy's aircraft carrier programme if, as they fear, the delay leads to job losses.

Leaders of the five Holyrood parties faced each other for the final time in the hour-long BBC debate presented by Scotland Editor Sarah Smith.

They took questions on the economy, constitution, health service and, in the wake of the Edinburgh schools crisis, public-private contracts.

As the campaign enters its final 72 hours, the five leaders, also including the Greens' Patrick Harvie, managed to avoid any catastrophic clangers.

Ms Sturgeon faced the greater pressure over her plans to campaign for independence.

Ms Dugdale was accused of re-writing Labour's health spending plans after failing to realise her manifesto pledge would have delivered less cash to the NHS then the SNP's proposals.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon accuses rivals of undermining democracy over independence plans

Earlier in the day, the parties clashed over plans to create more jobs, after Ms Sturgeon vowed her party would bring forward an employment strategy within 100 days of winning a third term in power.

The Herald:

As part of the strategy, the SNP would double the number of Living Wage employers by the autumn of 2017, provide help for home grown businesses to expand, and set up regional economic forums.

Ms Sturgeon said: "We want everyone in Scotland to have the opportunity to find work but we also want to improve the quality of work, drive up pay where wages are low and ensure that our workforce have the right skills for the jobs of the future."

Labour questioned the plan, with Iain Gray, the party's opportunity spokesman saying: "The single most important economic investment we can make is in education.

"The SNP budget forces hundreds of millions of pounds of cuts to schools and local services.

"That will cost jobs now, and cost our economy in the long run."

A Scots Tory spokesman said: "Making Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK, as all other parties want to, will have a very damaging impact in Scotland.

"It will be like putting a sign at the border saying 'closed for business'."

Patrick Harvie, the Scottish Greens leader, said his party would create 200,000 jobs "in alternative viable industries" to replace those being lost in the oil and gas industry.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "The SNP have been in power for 3200 days already.

"Scotland can’t wait on them to take even longer to get a jobs plan together."

The row came as thousands of Scots took part in the annual May Day march and rally in Glasgow.

Labour's equality spokesman Neil Findlay told the crowd his party had returned to its "radical roots" with plans to increase taxes - including the restoration of the 50p top rate of income taxes for high earners - to invest in public services and help prevent cuts.

He said those taking part in the Glasgow March, organised by the Scottish Trades Union Congress, were protesting "against austerity and for workers' rights".

He claimed under the SNP the Scottish Parliament had been "turned into a conveyor belt for Tory cuts" but added: "On Thursday we can vote to stop these cuts.

"To stop the cuts you have to use both votes for a party who will use the powers."