Longannet Carbon Capture

From a posh Marquee in the middle of Longannet Power Station the Carbon
Capture Mobile Test Unit was officially launched on Friday.

The Unit will show what could be done to reduce carbon emissions from
our coal fired power stations which can be extremely damaging to the
environment.

It's the first time the technology has been tested on a coal fired power
station in Europe.

With easy access to the North Sea Oil Fields and a huge aquifer,
Longannet is ideally sited. And as the station is the third biggest in
Europe there would be plenty bang for the buck - the reduction in carbon
emissions for the investment made could be considerable.

The real challenge is to reduce the amount of energy used in the process
of capturing the carbon. There is some way to go yet but this is a good
start.

European Arrest Warrant

I find it staggering that the Tories and UKIP would rather let robbers, fraudsters and even killers go free rather than work with our European neighbours on tackling crime. It's difficult to believe that they didn't support the European Arrest Warrant.

They are putting dogma before our safety.

Ed Davey was right on Radio Four's Today programme to criticise the Tories and UKIP for this.

Take a look at the Lib Dems' European Election website for more information.

Delight for Ghurkas

Gordon Brown has done the decent and honourable thing by granting Gurkhas, who've served for at least four years, the right to live here if they choose.

In a week when Parliament has not covered itself in glory this decision will go someway to restore that reputation.

Nick Clegg has skilfully managed the campaign in Parliament with the outstanding support of Joanna Lumley and Councillor Peter Carroll outside Parliament.

Chris Rennard to stand down as Chief Executive

Chris Rennard has changed the Liberal Democrats out of all recognition. From a party with only a few MPs he has turned us into an effective fighting force across the UK.

I'm sad that he has decided to stand down as Chief Executive of the Party in the summer but am very grateful for all he has done for us.

He'll still be around - helping us to win over and over again.

No apology from the regulators then

The Financial Services Authority, Bank of England and the Treasury appeared before the Scottish Affairs Select Committee today in the first evidence session for the Dunfermline Building Society inquiry.

Despite effective probing from MPs Ian Davidson and Alistair Carmichael about why they failed to spot and stop the "reckless decision making" at the Society, they said they had done nothing wrong.

If Society was so reckless surely they should have stepped in to put an end to end. But they didn't. This another example of the failure of regulation.

Tories would rather let criminals go free than work with Europe!

Lib Dem Chris Huhne has just launched a new set of post cards and leaflets for the European Election Campaign. They show that the Tories put dogma before our safety with their ideological opposition to Europe.

They are so opposed to working with our European neighbours that they would rather let criminals go free. They would scrap the European Arrest Warrant that has led to the speedy extradition of thousands of criminals across Europe.

Forth crossing funding

In my adjournment debate this evening at 10pm I will be begging (yes begging) the Government to step in, reach an agreement and resolve the current uncertainty over the new Forth Crossing.

The SNP Government in Scotland has been in power for two years now but despite the bridge being a priority they haven't settled the funding issue. The Scottish Futures Trust hasn't raised a single penny. They seem more interested in another bust up with Westminster that securing Scotland's premier transport artery.

If the SNP are so determined to use this as a political football I have no option but to seek direct support from Westminster who have already accepted the principle of direct support but have not come forward with new money yet.