Government under pressure over SNP Iraq motion

There’s growing speculation today that the Government might just face a defeat over the SNP’s motion calling for an inquiry into the Iraq War.

The Tories want any inquiry to take place once control of the country is handed back to Iraqi authorities. But the shadow foreign secretary indicated today that if their preferred option is not accepted, they will join the SNP, Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and Labour rebels in backing the calls for an immediate inquiry.

With the SNP predicting a rebellion of around 30 anti-war Labour MPs, Tory support could be enough to overturn Mr Blair’s majority of 62. (Guardian)

The SNP and Plaid Cymru have often been accused of being a negligible force at Westminster. Yet between this debate and the loans for peerages affair, they look to be by by far the most dynamic opposition force at the moment. Perhaps, this is precisley because they are the party least committed to what one might call the Westminster consensus.