Responding to comments by Alastair Campbell at the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war where he revealed that Tony Blair spoke “regularly” to Gordon Brown before the invasion the SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP said:

“This evidence reveals that Gordon Brown cannot now avoid questioning before the general election on his role into why the UK became involved in the Iraq war.

“Tony Blair may have led us into an illegal war based on a dubious claim about weapons of mass destruction but it was Gordon Brown who bankrolled it.

“Before the public goes to the polls this year they must have the chance to see and hear Gordon Brown’s version of events.

“It is utterly ridiculous that the current Prime Minister will not be held to account before the election for his actions around the war in Iraq.

The SNP Westminster Group has issued a final challenge to the UK Government to transfer powers to the Scottish Parliament, as recommended by the Calman Commission, including control over the drink drive limit, speed limit, control of air weapons, and responsibility for Scottish elections.

The Scottish Government has already published the necessary Orders to achieve this – which could be approved at the Privy Council meeting in March if they are laid at Westminster by next Friday 15th January 2010 and at Holyrood by 20th January 2010.

As that deadline draws near, SNP Chief Whip Stewart Hosie MP has tabled a motion in the UK Parliament calling on all MPs to back the transfer.

Commenting, Mr Hosie said:

"By refusing to act, Westminster is holding Scotland back.

"The Scottish Parliament has already backed an SNP motion calling for the powers to be transferred. The UK Parliament must follow this lead and work constructively with the Scottish Government to implement those recommendations of the Commission on Scottish Devolution on which there is widespread agreement before the next General Election.

"If they are the right thing to do – and all the parties have agreed that they are – then we should be delivering them as quickly as possible, not kicking them into the Westminster long grass.

"The priority must be action to implement the changes about which everyone is agreed and we have set out a timetable for laying the Orders at Holyrood and Westminster to achieve the necessary Privy Council approval.

"It is still possible to meet this timetable although Orders need to be laid at Westminster by 15th January and Holyrood by 20th January. The transfer of these responsibilities will have consequences for other government functions – devolved and reserved. Scottish Government officials are ready to work through the detail of these consequences with Whitehall officials.

"The Labour Government at Westminster is stalling on Calman and, as we enter the last week in which the Orders can be taken forward, the SNP will be stepping up our campaign to see these essential changes made."

A copy of Mr Hosie’s motion is below:

That this House welcomes the recommendations of the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution that responsibility for the law across a range of areas be devolved to the Scottish Parliament; welcomes the recommendations for closer working between the Scottish and UK Ministers to ensure that the needs of Scotland are properly represented; urges the UK Government to work with the Scottish Parliament to ensure that, where there is consensus, all such recommendations are implemented before the dissolution of the current UK Parliament.

SNP Westminster Energy spokesperson Mike Weir MP has welcomed a report by the influential House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee which calls on the UK Government to follow the Scottish Government’s lead by cutting emissions of greenhouse gases by 42 per cent by 2020 - the target enshrined in law by the Scottish Climate Change Act, which was passed unanimously last year.

Mr Weir said:

“Scotland has led the way in legislation to tackle climate change and so it is very welcome that this committee is now recommending that Westminster should catch up and cut emissions by 42 per cent by 2020.

“The Scottish Government has set the benchmark and, after the fiasco in Copenhagen, it is now more important than ever that other governments show the same leadership and ambition to tackle climate change. These recommendations show that Scotland can inspire other nations to equally ambitious action.

“Right across the developed world, we need a cohesive approach to tackling climate change and the UK Government must now act on these recommendations.

“Scotland is already making a big difference on climate change through developing the technology and capacity - in renewables, in carbon capture, and in energy efficiency measures - to reduce emissions and combat global warming.

“Our Climate Change Act is the most ambitious in the world, committing us to cut emissions by 42 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020 and by at least 80 per cent by 2050. Scotland has the natural resources - 25 per cent of Europe's offshore wind and tidal resources, and 10 per cent of wave potential - and the ambition to achieve these targets at home and make our full contribution to global goals.”

The full Commons Environmental Audit Committee report can be found at:

Independence is the only way forward for Scotland said Mikey Hughes, runner up of Big Brother 2008 as he confirmed he had joined the Scottish National Party.

Mikey - who wants to work with the party to promote independence to Scotland’s young people - also hosts a programme on Insight radio, a station for blind and partially sighted people.

Mikey Hughes won a Sony Award for his work with Insight. Speaking from his home in Kilwinning, the TV star said:“I believe the SNP are the only party putting Scotland first.

“I can’t wait to get started working with the SNP to inspire Scotland’s young people to get into politics and to back independence for a better future.  

“Standing in the Glasgow North East by-election really brought home the problems Scotland faces as part of the union.  It is ridiculous that with all Scotland’s oil wealth ordinary people are still struggling to heat their homes or are living in poverty.  

“Independence is the only way Scotland will really fulfil her ambitions and build a strong economic future for our young people.

Plans to build a new Trident nuclear weapons system must be ditched not delayed as Labour missed a key deadline for the project.

A parliamentary question to Mr Robertson in October 2009 said the decision on the "initial gate" a key part of the project would be made by the end of the year, however, the MoD have now suggested it will be postponed until at least July this year, putting it beyond the general election.

Mr Robertson said:

“Renewal should not be delayed it should be ditched completely, and deferring the Initial Gate decision will not prevent this obscene waste of money from becoming a key issue in the general election.

“The next election is about choices for the future, and with both Labour and the Tories set on massive cuts to public investment in the face of a recession which is hitting every household, it would be indefensible for a UK government of any complexion to push ahead with Trident renewal.

“This decision has been delayed and postponed time after time because Downing Street know people do not want to waste billions on weapons of mass destruction when frontline services are under threat.

WINDOWS SCREENSAVER

Download our Windows Screensaver here!