SNP leader John Swinney has called on voters to use June's European elections as a referendum on Iraq.

He said voters should punish the government over the "deceit" used to take the country to war.

"This is a very important democratic opportunity for the people of this country to express their views on the lies that we were told before we went to war in Iraq last year," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Tuesday.

Swinney, whose party opposed the conflict, called on Scots to make their voice heard.

"I want to make sure that people use the democratic opportunity they have to express their concern and to come out to the polls and demonstrate to the government that the people of this country will not tolerate the deceit that the government was perpetrating in the run-up to the war last year," he added.

His comments come amid predictions that Labour could face meltdown in the European poll.

Some predict that the party will lose out to the SNP, the Tories and the Lib Dems.

Others also fear that the BNP could secure a seat in the Brussels parliament following growing controversy surrounding the issue of immigration.