THE WHITEWASH

Well its the only polite description that can be given to the news that the Cash for Honours scandal is not going to trial.

A quite unbelieveable decision given;

(1) The investigation began with a Labour Party donor complaining about being denied a peerage.

(2) Labour Party Treasurer Jack Dromey knew nothing about loans being given to the Party.

(3) That unlike donations, loans do not have to be registered - the heart of the issue in my view.

(4) Blair created 292 peerages when in office.

This issue does however dispense with the nonsense that the SNP cannot be effective at Westminster, as we have led the charge on this issue alongside our Welsh Comrades Plaid Cymru. Unquestionably the SNP/Plaid Group punch way above their weight in the so called "Mother of all Parliaments".

This is complimented by some of the vitriolic attacks coming from New Labour MP's.

The issue of political donations will not go away, and we can only hope that the Westminster Parliamentary Public Administration Committee will thoroughly investigate this matter.

The next Westminster elections are a glorious chance for the SNP to distinguish ourselves from the other parties in terms of funding and to grow our increasing Parliamentary representation.