Opposition MSPs in the Scottish pariament are to push for a vote on plans to roll out GM crops north of the border.

Following Margaret Beckett's decision to sanction the commercial planting of GM maize, the SNP is demanding that the Scottish parliament is given a vote on the issue.

The call comes amid reports that Whitehall wants to convene a special cross border committee to try to force Wales and Scotland to accede to the decision to allow GM crops.

The SNP plans to use an opposition day debate in the Holyrood parliament to give MSPs and opportunity to vote on the issue.

And ahead of the debate they are calling on the Liberal Democrats to state how they will vote.

The party's Roseanna Cunningham said she wanted to "put a bit of backbone" into the coalition Scottish executive.

"Last week’s GM announcement was met with outright opposition from Welsh ministers; here in Scotland, the response was feeble," she said.

"The public is overwhelmingly opposed to GM, yet Scottish ministers refused to use their powers to block it.

"Now we learn that Whitehall is planning to try to compel Scotland and Wales to accept Downing Street’s pro-GM agenda.

"The parliament has to now step in a make clear that Ministers must not capitulate in the face of pressure from London.

"The Lib-Dems will be crucial in this. They have been up to their old tricks when it comes to GM crops. On the doorstep they tell people they are opposed to their introduction.

"In Westminster and in the Welsh Assembly they shout their opposition from the rooftops. But here in Scotland – when they are actually in government and have a chance to turn words into action - they do nothing."