Stevenson's critics in 'rank hypocrisy'

LOTHIANS SNP MSP Ian McKee has accused opposition politicians of "naked opportunism" in citing weather forecasters as evidence against former transport minister Stewart Stevenson.

Mr Stevenson was accused of failing to heed severe weather warnings ahead of last week's snow crisis, which saw hundreds of drivers marooned overnight on the M8.

But Dr McKee recalled how opposition MSPs had dismissed a report on the likely impact of minimum pricing of alcohol as the equivalent of weather- forecasting.

He said: "They all condemned Stewart Stevenson for not paying enough attention to the weather forecast - but only three weeks ago they all rubbished the science of weather forecasting when considering the Alcohol Bill.

"This is naked opportunism with an unmistakable whiff of rank hypocrisy - and all to bring someone down. "