By Steve Bargeton, political editor

THE SNP plan to use the European Parliament elections as a referendum on Prime Minister Tony Blair’s “lies” over the war with Iraq.

Launching the party’s strategy in Edinburgh yesterday, party leader John Swinney urged Scottish voters to send a clear message to the Government on June 10 that they were deceived by the reasons given for toppling Saddam Hussein.

Mr Swinney made it clear that by “lies” he means the deliberate misleading of the British people.

“Let’s use these elections to tell Tony Blair that his lies and deceit about the war in Iraq will not be tolerated,” he said.

“We have been taken to war by a Prime Minister who had lied and deceived on our behalf.

“The European election is Scotland’s chance to give voice to Scotland’s values and speak out against a government that dragged us into a war based on lies.

“It’s a vote to send a message to an arrogant government in London that dragged us into a war that we did not want and that has made our world so much more unsafe.

“It is a chance to tell Tony Blair what we think of all the spin and deceit behind his case for war. It is our chance to make our voice heard.

“On June 10th let’s send a message to Tony Blair—no more lies.”

As well as the war with Iraq, the SNP will campaign on the plight of the Scottish fishing industry and on abolishing the council tax.

These three issues, only one of which—fishing—has any direct bearing on the work of the European Parliament, would, said Mr Swinney, “weave together a powerful expression of Scotland’s values at home and abroad.”

“The SNP vision is of an independent Scotland, equal to the other nations of Europe and the world, playing a positive role in promoting and protecting Scotland’s national interests,” said Mr Swinney.

“The European election is an opportunity to protect and promote our country’s vital national interests, to defend our fishing industry from destruction and give hope to our fragile coastal communities, to restore fairness to taxation by abolishing the council tax and delivering a system based on ability to pay, to use our voice in the world to promote Scotland’s values, not make a deceitful case for war.

“That’s what we can—together—achieve at this election.

“On Iraq, we marched for peace but the Government thirsted for war.

“On fishing, we are fighting hard for our communities, but the government is decimating the fleet. On the council tax, we demand fairness for our pensioners, but the government delivers injustice.

“But above all else, let’s make June the 10th a referendum on Tony Blair’s lies. Let’s tell him—not in Scotland’s name.”

Mr Swinney brushed aside suggestions that his leadership is on the line if the SNP do not perform strongly in the European elections.

At the moment the party has two of the eight Scottish MEPs.

The number of Scottish MEPs is being cut by one in June. Some commentators believe that if the SNP do not return two to Brussels again, Mr Swinney will face another leadership challenge before the next general election, which could be just over a year away.

But yesterday the SNP leader said his aim in June was for his party to poll “the largest share of the vote.”

And if they do not?

“As for speculation on the aftermath, leave it till June 10,” he said.