THE Conservatives have been accused of being "time bandits" trying to plunge Scots into darkness after the UK Government said it was ready to back plans for clocks to go forward by one hour all year round.

As people prepare to change their clocks tonight, opposition parties in Scotland were outraged after ministers in London indicated they would support a Private Member's Bill paving the way for moving the UK into line with Central European Time (CET) for a trial period of three years.

Critics say the extra hour of darkness in the morning would increase the dangers for children going to school and adults travelling to work.

Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking during a visit to Australia, refused to reject the plan.

The SNP warned it would have "massive implications" for the safety of everyone living north of Manchester; Labour said it would be "disastrous", and a spokesman for the Scottish wing of Mr Cameron's party admitted that the change could be "hazardous".

The latest effort to change the clocks is being made by Rebecca Harris, the Conservative MP for Castle Point in Essex – about 440 miles south of Glasgow.

Ms Harris told The Herald she was not interested in imposing anything people did not want.

She said: "Any eventual change to the clocks would affect everyone in the country, so I do not believe it should be considered unless there is good evidence in favour of it and a broad public consensus."

The SNP MP for the Western Isles, Angus MacNeil, said the change would mean dawn wouldn't break in Scotland until nearly 9am.

He said: "The evidence put forward supporting this change is dubious at best and the proponents of this change have ignored the sound reasons why this was abandoned after being trialled in the 1970s, and more recently by other European neighbours, who found that the shift had a damaging effect on safety, health, energy consumption and commerce."

Shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran said the change would mean added dangers for children walking to school in winter.

Mr Cameron said: "Discussions are under way across Whitehall and with the devolved authorities, but that's the key – you can only do this if there is real national consensus and pressure between all the nations of our United Kingdom."

Supporters of the change claim it would mean lighter winter evenings leading to a cut in road deaths, a boost for tourism and reduced energy use.

Scottish Conservatives culture spokeswoman and leadership contender Ruth Davidson said the debate was "an interesting one and needs to be subject to full scrutiny".

She said: "Any issue that would have such a fundamental impact on the lives of every Scot needs to be fully analysed and it is only right that if Scotland is against the change that we are not forced to implement it."

Alistair Carmichael, the LibDem MP for Orkney and Shetland and the Government's deputy chief whip, said there was understandable disquiet about proposals.

He said: "Ministers have made it clear there needs to be consensus across the devolved administrations if any change were to take place and amendments have been tabled to make sure this is the case.'

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "The Scottish Government's established position is that there is no case for a change to existing arrangements."

l The clocks go back an hour at 2am tomorrow