Different perspectives
So where are we now?
Well, read the documents for yourself on the web. But already this evening divergent interpretations are emerging.
At Westminster, opposition critics are particularly keen to seize upon the suggestion that the then Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell had indicated to Libya that neither the Prime Minister nor the Foreign Secretary wanted Abdelbaset al Megrahi to die in prison.
At Holyrood, the somewhat different opposition wants to focus upon the actions of the Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.
The element I would note en passant is the absence so far of any concrete link between these two events: UK Government positioning and Scottish Government action.
Firstly, the Westminster perspective. Today's documents confirm what we knew: that the UK Government was anxious to improve relations with Libya in order, among other things, to strengthen global security.
The initial aim of excluding al Megrahi from the emerging prisoner transfer agreement was dropped in pursuit of that wider interest. But UK Ministers stressed at all points that this was one for the Scottish Government.
Translation? We, the UK Government, want to placate the Libyans. That means no exclusion for al Megrahi. But there's a fall back: you, the Scottish Government, can say no to prisoner transfer.
We learn today that Kenny MacAskill mentioned to Al Megrahi in Greenock prison that prisoner transfer would require the abandonment of outstanding legal proceedings.
Opponents translate that as: drop your appeal and you are on your way home.
Not so, says the minister. He was merely stating the facts, accompanying them with a statement that he would require to take all elements into consideration.
In the event, he said no to prisoner transfer - but sanctioned release on compasionate grounds.
Which leaves us where? Influential interests - certainly including the Libyans and conceivably including the UK - wanted a resolution to the al Megrahi applications for release in order to improve relations between London and Tripoli.
But how was that translated into action? Did Kenny MacAskill comply via compassionate release rather than prisoner transfer?
He and his UK counterparts are adamant that there was no such deal - and there is no document in today's dossier which confirms otherwise.
Did Kenny MacAskill, then, release Al Megrahi because he knew, in advance from another meeting held by his officials, that the Libyan was prepared to abandon his appeal in return for prisoner transfer?
Again, there is no concrete evidence to that effect. And, again, the Minister is adamant that he acted from mercy, rejecting prisoner transfer.
More tomorrow.
I'm 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~31~RS~)
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Brian.
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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"The element I would note en passant is the absence so far of any concrete link between these two events: UK Government positioning and Scottish Government action."
Brian. Most of us here can read, write, and understand the author's use of a qualifying phrase to imply that there is more to come, when they have absolutely no evidence to that effect, but wish to suggest that there is indeed a causal link between two events.
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1. oldnat
"Brian.
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?"
Yes please as a political journalist in Scotland it is your duty.
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This is nonsense, because there is ABSOLUTELY no procedural necessity for it:-
"Did Kenny MacAskill, then, release Al Megrahi because he knew, in advance from another meeting held by his officials, that the Libyan was prepared to abandon his appeal in return for prisoner transfer?"
On the other hand, I subscribe to this imperative, for we know what MacAskill thinks...but what about this guy!:-
"Ian Gray must now say unequivocally whether he agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail."
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Documented proof now exists that proves Jack Straw was influenced by trade deals when signing the Prisoner Transfer Agreement.
Documented proof exists that clearly shows the Scottish Government was against such a transfer and asked Straw to remove Megrahi's name.
Documented proof exists that proves Jack Straw at first agreed to this request from the Scottish Government but that an oil deal with Libya influenced his decision to go back on that agreement.
Documented proof citing a Libyan official now exists that implicates Gordon Brown in such a deal. This puts Brown completely at odds with the stance of Iain Gray - time for a BBC journalist to question Gray!!
Documented proof proves that Jack Straw tried to lobby the Scottish Government on behalf of Megrahi.
Documented proof shows that there was an agreement with the USA that Megrahi would serve out his sentence in Scotland.
Documented proof exists suggesting that Westminster were keen to remove that deal as an obstacle to the PTA.
No proof exists that implicates the Scottish Government in any deals with any third party.
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So Brian, are you going to ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
Given the apparently sincere belief of the Libyans that Gordon Brown wanted al Megrahi's release, are you going to try and find out if Gordon Brown et al. told one thing to the Libyans and another thing to the Americans, and quite possibly a third thing to the Scottish government?
We're much more interested in the answers to those questions than anything you've raised in this article.
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"Opponents translate that as: drop your appeal and you are on your way home."
That might have had some mileage if indeed their was any remote connection between the appeal and compassionate relief.
I would have expected a good journalist to have pointed that out, instead of phrasing it as if the opponents were somehow making a point!
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Any truly impartial news organisation would ask that question of Gray.
If the question is not asked then the BBC's claimed "impartiality" is blown out of the water once and for all!
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Has Brian Taylor been 'got at' by BBC bosses in London - there's as yet no concrete evidence to that effect.
Is Brian Taylor guilty of partisan reporting and blatant peddling of propaganda, again there's as yet no concrete evidence to that effect.
There is however, unlike the situation with Kenny MacAskill, plenty of circumstantial evidence to suggest that something is wrong at Pacific Quay.
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Brian
There is no concrete link. The Scottish Government has published everything. The UK government have only published their correspondence with the Scottish Government obviousley because the Scottish Government were going to publish that anyway! Let's see the documentation (minutes/letters etc) between the UK government and Libya. I won't hold my breath on that.
Brian, where is Ian Gray? When he appears can you ask him if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Magrahi to die in jail. I pay my license fee and expect the most basic and obvious questions to be asked of our politicians.
Feeedom
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Firstly, the Westminster perspective. Today's documents confirm what we knew: that the UK Government was anxious to improve relations with Libya in order, among other things, to strengthen global security.
What might those other things be Brian? Might they be exactly what is contained in the papers?
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'Any truly impartial news organisation would ask that question of Gray.'
Interesting i tried to post a comment on this unbiased new organisation that we all pay for and it was removed.
BBC does not like free speech it seems!
But anyway let me try again to post.
Brian - Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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Malcolm Chisholm has e-mailed me. He thanks me for my message of support and says he will take the same line when this issue is discussed again (this week?)in Parliament.
He did not comment on my suggestion that he should join the SNP.
Freedom
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Brian's article makes use of the word 'deal' only once. One could have been forgiven for thinking that the clear evidence that Jack Straw concluded the deal initially brokered by Blair would have made it into Taylor's piece.
But no - here is the part of the article that uses the word 'deal':
Did Kenny MacAskill comply via compassionate release rather than prisoner transfer?
He and his UK counterparts are adamant that there was no such deal
There you go, again conflating Kenny MacAskill's decision with the deals we now know for certain negotiated by London.
It's come to something when evidence of horse trading is simply ignored whilst innuendo and misdirection are used in order to smear the innocent.
Read through Brian's article again and you can cearly see where he has used euphamisms when referring to the UK government's now documented deals.
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mince , the facts are there for all to see, the only thing we wont know is "when Mandy met Gaddafi" as I don't imagine minutes would have been taken then ?, but that was the plan all along, relying on the moral fortitude of a proper minister , unlike how they act themselves.
oh almost forgot
Brian.
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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Different perspectives?
Sorry, Brian, you're only seeing your own.
You're protecting Labour at all costs, even to the cost of your credibility.
This isn't right. Not right at all.
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TELEPHONE CALL WITH U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DOES NOT GRANT PERMISSION FOR THIS DOCUMENT TO BE PUBLISHED
O RLY?
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Brian,
if you can't find Gray, can you try and find Murphy and ask him if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail.
If you can't find Murphy, try McConnell.
Freedom
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"Mr Mackaskill stressed that the decsion to drop any appeal was a decisoon for mr al-Megrahi and his legal team alone"
BRIAN
Why the hell did you leave that little nugget out of your blog? What are you playing at?
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#39. Best of luck. It's easy to make oneself unpopular with the "powers-that-be" by persistently telling the truth.
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Iain Gray must feel like a bit of a numpty today. The debate could be very uncomftable for him as he said if he was FM he wouldn't have let him go. yeah right - Gordie would not have allowed that
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Brian, will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for Mr Al Megrahi to die in a Scottish jail?
it is not that difficult YES or NO
Sid.
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The question reported by Brian as being asked by (?) "Did Kenny MacAskill, then, release Al Megrahi because he knew, in advance from another meeting held by his officials, that the Libyan was prepared to abandon his appeal in return for prisoner transfer?"
Is unequivocally answered by the fact that Mr MacAskill released Mr Megrahi of compassionate grounds and therefore any question of the appeal being abandoned was irrelevant.
Much better to ask Mr Gray whether he agrees with Mr Brown's view that it would have been wrong to allow Mr Megrahi to die in jail, or whether he is leading a Scottish Labour rebellion against London Labour?
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I have been reading all of these posts for the last week or so, with great interest, and tonight decided that in the current flow of thought I had to add .......
"Brian - Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?"
It was an awful job to join in, someone has either stolen my old name, or they just didn't like it, so, Jemima is back with a new and longer title. Anyway, come on Brian, be a good boy and answer the question which everyone is asking.
Bighullaballoo I hope you can hang on in there boy!
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# Indeed ask these others. In fact does Gordon Brown unequivocally agree with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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Brian - among other things!!!!
OIL OIL OIL OIL OIL OIL and of course OIL there I've said it for you.
Sid.
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Brian,
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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Self interest over truth? How could anyone that calls himself decent and honourable live with himself?
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#41. At 9:22pm on 01 Sep 2009, scotzzzz wrote:
Iain Gray must feel like a bit of a numpty today.
-------------
Surely a familiar feeling for the poor gentleman.
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Brian,
‘that the UK Government was anxious to improve relations with Libya in order, among other things, to strengthen global security.’
Strengthen security? Get real! Quite simply it was all about oil.
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Brian -
For a man who confessed he has no love or time for conspiracy theorists - you seem to be really stretching credibility with your blog.
You have insinuated more than once that Mackaskil tried to coerce al-Megrahi into dropping his appeal.
Did you actually read any of those documents?
It took me an hour and a half to go through what was there - and in every eventuality Mackaskil was as open and honest as I'd have expected him to be. Your constant undermining of clear documentation of the facts is somewhat jarring.
Do you have proof that Mackaskil sought to sway anyones decision? Do you have a smoking gu that shows that the Scottish Govt were in bed with the UK government? Even Ming Campbell has more sense than to bark up that tree - he finds the idea preposterous.
Was this the time to strike Brian? Was the order to start publishing dishonest and bias journalism given from up on high once Macaskill made the decision to free Megrahi?
Would you be cyber hounding his ratioale if he had kept al-Megrahi in prison? Would Iain Gray be echoing what Gordon Brown has said about Megrahi not dying in prison?
Any idiot who can read will see that the Scottish Government has nothing to hide or fear - but what is it that has the UK Govt so worried that they have clammed up and let thier lapdog BBC do the sniping?
Answers? Please?
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Brian.
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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Brian, it couldn't be simpler. Labour are facing 2 ways on this at once. A Scottish MP and UK Labour leader - the Prime Minister - who would have sent Megrahi back to Libya under prisoner transfer (but hasn't got the fortitude to admit it) ... and a "wannabe first minister" Holyrood Scottish Labour leader who says he wouldn't have released Megrahi at all "if he was First Minister".
If no Scottish journalist can ask Iain Gray to square that circle, then truly it will be a sad day for journalistic enquiry and integrity in Scotland.
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#36. At 9:15pm on 01 Sep 2009, hadrianswall wrote:
Brian,
if you can't find Gray, can you try and find Murphy...
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Isn't Murphy in hiding? He has been very mysteriously missing through this ENTIRE episode--one of the more dishonorable disappearances and totally unmentioned by your excellent BBC coverage. Interesting.
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Comment 55 - Now how did you manage to get your comment through before earlier comments have been moderated?
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Do you have proof that Mackaskil sought to sway anyones decision?
You made the insinuation, Brian, which is the lowest of low in journalism.
Now have the balls to back it up or back down.
As my grandfather used to say: FISH OR CUT BAIT.
I want to see evidence of that accusation.
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Brian, in the name of all that's cute and Tunnock's shaped what are you playing at?
"Different perspectives" seems a tad ironic as a title as you STILL seem to be subtly pushing the "collusion" line favoured by your less clued up metropolitan counterparts. They at least have the excuse of general ignorance on the matter. If only you had a different perspective.
By the way, could you ask Iain Gray next time your talking to him if he agrees with his boss Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong to allow Mr Al Megrahi die in jail?
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Given that most of your blogs are written possibly unintentional with a slight Labour bias, I still believe you would like to think that you are a fair minded person.
Having said that, it is not an unreasonable request from many of your readers to ask -
"Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?"
Not to ask the question would undoubtedly confirm with no uncertainty, that your blogs are merely an extention of the Labour propaganda machine.
However, by asking the question I genuinely believe you would gain a great deal of respect and give value to your blogs.
As someone once said, "I can only show you the door, you have to walk through it."
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Did Kenny MacAskill, then, release Al Megrahi because he knew, in advance from another meeting held by his officials, that the Libyan was prepared to abandon his appeal in return for prisoner transfer?
How on earth does MacAskill benefit from this? Why does he care? If this is waht you honestly believe please reveal to us the hidden agenda of MacAskill's that it serves.
The opposition has sought relentlessly to score points from the SNP government on first one point, which when countered, move the goalposts for another free hit, and on and on.
Free hits? How so? Because in any country where the media take their role in democracy seriously, the media do not allow hollow attacks to be made without scrutiny and critique. When multiple hollow attempts are made time after time, the actual motivations behind them would be exposed by the media, and the statement they make about the parties involved would also be laid bare.
Only with a complicit media could such toothless attacks be sustained and amplified to such a pitch.
It's not just Gray; it's Goldie, Scott, and Murphy.
It's not too late! Question their positions, their questions, their motivations. Consider the possibility that these sustained point-scoring attempts strike at our legal process and positions of government. Consider that it makes the mediocre politician feel competetent - hardly helping raise the bar for Scottish politicians.
Start now and seek to redress the balance of this entire media debacle, it has demeaned the Scottish journalistic media - do not let it permanently diminish a most significant pillar of a functioning democracy!
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Questions for Ian Gray:
1. Do you think it was appropriate for a UK cabinet minister to lobby the Scottish Government on behalf of Megrahi?
2. Do you believe that compassion to the families of the victims should have outweighed any concerns over trade deals?
3. Do you agree with Gordon Brown that Megrahi should not die in a Scottish prison?
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Surely through an act of responsibility, Brian, can you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?.
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Hmmm.
Guess what?
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
I'd like to know where he stands on this. I believe that it would have been a very bad idea to let Megrahi die in prison. It's nice to know that the PM agrees with me. It's a pity that we don't have more politicians that can see the big picture.
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Brian.
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
It will be very interesting to see your response after the debate tomorrow Brian.
Remember we are watching and hoping against all hope it seems from you and BBC Scotland News recent performances on the whole affair for unbiased and accurate reporting of the actual debate!!
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55. bighullabaloo
"BIGHULLA RUNS IN AND THROWS A SLEDGEHAMMER THROUGH THE SCREEN - SMASHING BIG BROTHER CORPORATION'S ENRAGED FACE INTO A MILLION PIECES!"
Epic! :)
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Just another simple question; as the High Commissioner for Scotland, aka the Secretary of State for Scotland has been strangely silent on this very Scottish matter - it is too just ask the rest of the Cabinet - what credibility does he have left should he venture to comment on anything in the future?
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Brian,
This continued attempt to suggest that the Scottish Government did something shady, or at the very least mishandled the business, gets more and more farcical. We all know that journalists get their livelihood by keeping stories running and, when they have nothing 'concrete' to report, it pays them to be able to fill their column inches and broadcast time with speculation, but this is one of the issues on which the trade has shown itself at its sordid and unethical worst
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The position of the leader of the Scottish Labour opposition vis-a-vis the Leader of his parent party and the Prime Minister of the UK is of great significance, given the gulf between those positions. He should be asked why he and the Labour Party in Scotland oppose Gordon Brown's position that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail.
Why is it that every item that comes to light is posited by the BBC as a reason why the Cabinet Justice Secretary of the Scottish Government is scurrying about doing the underhand work of the British state?!
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Brian - Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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The SNP have clearly calculated that they will limit the damage to themselves if they implicate Labour Ministers in the decision to free Megrahi even if they officially deny any collusion. If Gordon Brown did not want Megrahi to die in jail why would he push for transfer? The SNP can't have it both ways. If granted Megrahi would have died in a Libyan jail.
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Brian
Could you or someone else at the BBC, on camera or on radio, please ask Ian Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail.
Thanking you kindly in advance
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Brian,
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
Bongo.
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Patching in through an unlocked gateway....They've taken a bad hit from me tonight. the rest is up to all of you....
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# 61 - Here Here!
"It's not just Gray; it's Goldie, Scott, and Murphy.
It's not too late! Question their positions, their questions, their motivations. Consider the possibility that these sustained point-scoring attempts strike at our legal process and positions of government. Consider that it makes the mediocre politician feel competetent - hardly helping raise the bar for Scottish politicians.
Start now and seek to redress the balance of this entire media debacle, it has demeaned the Scottish journalistic media - do not let it permanently diminish a most significant pillar of a functioning democracy!"
BUT I'M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH!
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70 posts and counting with not a single post defending the BBC's biased reporting.
Does this give you a hint?
Mr. Taylor, I most respectfully ask: will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for Mr Al Megrahi to die in a Scottish jail?
It is not that difficult: YES or NO
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Has Brian ever, ever, ever respoded to any comments on this blog, does he ever read the feedback and if so, what does he do with it, if not, what's the point of it? A safety valve?
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Brian,
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
Bluelaw.
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Brian,as a matter of some urgency will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
A lot of us license fee payers are keen to know.
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Tonight will go down in history as the legendary night when their propaganda machine was finally flattened by Bighulla.
I am proud to have struck a blow for free speech on behalf of al right-thinking Scots!
FREEDOM!!!
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Opinion polls such as the BBC's recent 'effort' on the Megrahi issue, are commissioned precisely to influence, rather than reflect, public opinion - and seldom can such a contentious poll have been issued to provide such desperately needed ammunition to those who would use it for party-political gain.
As already noted, the unionist parties (with some distinguished individual exceptions) have exposed themselves in hijacking this issue to assault the SNP from the outset. Other than the politics of naked vengeance, and shoddy insinuation, however, they wholly failed to dig up effective dirt on the issue - a situation that remains largely the case.
Step forward the good old British media - who can always be counted upon to peddle any issue in the best interests of the unionist parties - in particular 'BBC Scotland's' regular tendency to represent almost every contention and spin by the Labour group at Holyrood as 'journalistic fact'.
The media's conduct over this specific issue has been markedly more distasteful than usual - perpetually fueling speculation over Kenny MacAskill's "failures", and to all intents and purposes doing the anti-SNP lobby's dirty work for them.
Then - Lo and Behold! - in the face of growing evidence of public and international support for the decision to release Megrahi - appears this highly dubious sample of 1005 people, offering immediate succour to the Scottish Government's detractors, and teed up in perfect time to be seized upon by the Holyrood unionist 'leaders', who will no doubt abuse these statistics to the hilt in furthering their entrenched stance against MacAskill and the SNP.
That this issue has been politicised at all - let alone seeing an opinionated poll produced by a supposedly impartial media being deployed as ammunition by a desperately partisan Holyrood cabal against a ministerial decision that should always have been above party politics - utterly stinks, and represents possibly a greater and more shameful scandal than any other aspect of this case.
Much has been said here and elsewhere on this issue, and I commend all those who stand in support of Kenny MacAskill's actions and uplifting decision.
[Online petition:"Scotland supports Kenny MacAskill's compassionate justice"]
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/CompassionateJusticeScotland?e
Tomorrow, of course, will be the 'Day of the Jackal' at Holyrood.
It remains to be seen, in tomorrow's debate, how much cheap political mileage will be extracted from the very dubious BBC poll, or from the baseless presumption and endless fabrication that has been relentlessly misrepresented as 'criticism' in recent days. However, many unionist MSPs have been antagonistic from the very start, and not one of those 'critics' has balanced their basic prejudice with any recognition of Kenny MacAskill's painstaking deliberations, or the fortitude of the decision taken under such a magnitude of pressure.
I believe the motivations of the 'baying mob' are thus exposed and discredited in a whole number of ways, not all of which have been explored or identified.
Regardless, Holyrood arithmetic will allow these detractors to 'censure' the Justice Minister over his decision - ultimately for the most churlish of reasons - an outcome which can only diminish our Parliament in the eyes of the world.
Which may well have been the unionist agenda all along.
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Brian - Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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#72. At 10:08pm on 01 Sep 2009, Maurice_Minor wrote:
The SNP have clearly calculated that they will limit the damage to themselves if they implicate Labour Ministers in the decision to free Megrahi even if they officially deny any collusion. If Gordon Brown did not want Megrahi to die in jail why would he push for transfer? The SNP can't have it both ways. If granted Megrahi would have died in a Libyan jail.
-----------------------------
Well, someone finally showed up to debate with. I thought all the Labourites had firmly gone to earth.
So in WHAT way is the SNP trying to have it both ways? Who says he would have died in a Libyan jail? The LIBYANS wouldn't have freed him? Get real. They ALWAYS said he was innocent and certainly would have freed him.
I am not an SNP member remember, please. But darn if I can see them having it both ways. However, the Labour party is doing a pretty good job of having it both ways.
We want to free him. Wait, no, we don't. Yes, we do. No, we don't. YES, we do. *rolls eyes*
Mr. Taylor, ARE you going to ask Mr. Gray if he agreed with Gordon Brown that al-Megrahi should have been freed?
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72. Maurice_Minor
Makes no sense.
Implicating Labour minister's in the decision simply makes the SNP government complicit in a scheme with the UK state to free him. The current position of the Scottish Government is that it released him as Kenny MacAskill's decision on compassionate release after due process through the legal system. Freeing the man was an unenviable decision - I don't see how the shenanigan's you claim for the Scottish government makes their position look better - not worse - than their actual postion.
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#72
Correct - Megrahi would have died in a Libyan jail.
But - The SNP ensured that the agreement that al-Megrahi would serve his sentence in Scotland was preserved. Quite perversely - he is a free man and spent his entire conviction in Scotland - thus honouring the agreement - if in a somewhat ironic and unforseeable way.
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Brian,
I read in your piece;
"Firstly, the Westminster perspective. Today's documents confirm what we knew: that the UK Government was anxious to improve relations with Libya in order, among other things, to strengthen global security."
Would those "other things" be oil contracts and business deals? Reading on;
"The initial aim of excluding al Megrahi from the emerging prisoner transfer agreement was dropped in pursuit of that wider interest."
Would that "wider interest" be oil contracts and business deals?
I wonder to myself if these "other things" and "wider interests" would be the preserve of Baron Lord High First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, President of the Board of Trade and Lord President of the Council Sir Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandleson of Foy (Ex European Commissioner and European Commissioner for Trade)?
The currently VERY quiet Mandelson. Not like him at all. Perhaps he's away on one of his Bilderberg Group meetings?
Further on in Different perspectives I came across;
"We learn today that Kenny MacAskill mentioned to Al Megrahi in Greenock prison that prisoner transfer would require the abandonment of outstanding legal proceedings.
Opponents translate that as: drop your appeal and you are on your way home."
The opponents translation "drop your appeal and you are on your way home." must surely have been "lost in translation" I may be mistaken, and someone please enlighten me if I'm wrong, but as far as I am aware there were two appeals outstanding regarding al-Megrahi. Firstly his own appeal which he dropped, but the other was - correct me if I'm wrong - an appeal against the leniency of his sentence which had been raised - again, correct me if I'm wrong - the Crown Prosecution Service which is under the auspices of the Attorney General IN WESTMINSTER. As far as I am aware this appeal was never dropped. This would heve precluded the option of PTA to the Justice Secretary even if he had wanted to go this route. That only left Compassinate Release. There was NO other option, other than be vindictive, bararic and inhumane and keep him in jail.
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I'm no pollster, but I'm spotting a trend here. - Would the BBC please shine the light where it belongs, into the darkness of Mr. Gray's corner.?
Does he agree with Gordon Brown? - A. that Megrahi shouldn't die in our jails... and B. that this release does not offer a crmb to terrorists.?
Plainly we are waiting for this line to be pursued, in the national interest.
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Brian,
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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Online_Ed
You see they almost got me at #67....
but did a back flip and landed on my feet on the other side of their firewall...I saw that one in The Matrix!
They've tried to erase it from history but I think you probably managed to read it before they got to it.
never give up your fight for fair and balanced coverage of Scottish politics!
Got go now before they get here and start hammering on the front door....
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Just watched Goldie assert that she'd not yet seen compelling medical evidence yet. I take if she had a prognosis given to her from a medical expert backed up by several consultants and a palliative care team she'd be laughing it off as stuff and nonsense. So with the labour msp/gp and the scots tory leader both on to the medical evidence is that the definitive new set of goalposts? Will they move again before the parliamentary debate?
Brian will you answer us? Will you question Mr Gray re Brown's position? Will you question the ever shifting goalposts, and examine the role of the media. Is the UK and Scottish BBC really settling on a united front of UK and Scottish governments colluding to free al Megrahi to the benefit of the UK state?
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Brian
This cannot be over-emphasised:
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail???
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I've noticed on occassion when the BBC are reporting on a story that they sometimes say things like, "a facebook page has been set up to support/defend/boycott" something along those lines. Will they then, when reporting on tomorrows debate, make mention of the Fantastic amount of requests on their own website asking for someone at our bought and paid for company asking Iain gray, Leader of the opposition, one simple question?
It's not a big thing i know, but to use sites like facebook to popularise a story when there is a far bigger internet uprising right under their noses is a bit short sighted. No need to direct us to other sites to see the internet crowds stand point, it's right here for you to see BBC.
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#70
I've long been of the opinion that the position of Secratary of State for Scotland should have died with the last Tory government.
It's position served as less than that of an envoy - it was a largely farcical position that sought to do little more than pacify Scottish concerns of under-representation at westminster. Indeed, the only thing you ever saw the secretary of state for Scotland out of his box for was award ceremonies at Edinburgh Castle and the odd Oil and Gas platform being commisioned.
Murphy's brief is to undermine the position of a devolved Scottish government - and in failing to do that - absorb the flak that Salmond and Sturgeon had until then aimed firmly at the door of Westminster.
He serves the interests of the UK and the UK alone. Scottish considerations do not fall into his remit. He merely meddles.
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82. Dougie-Dubh
"That this issue has been politicised at all - let alone seeing an opinionated poll produced by a supposedly impartial media being deployed as ammunition by a desperately partisan Holyrood cabal against a ministerial decision that should always have been above party politics - utterly stinks, and represents possibly a greater and more shameful scandal than any other aspect of this case."
Absolutely spot on! This is the real story - if only there were mass media journalists in Scotland who were't complicit in it to report it.
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Well done bighulla
My hat goes to you. Great effort, lets hope they see sense.
Round of applause from me
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"All new members are pre-moderated initially"???
What? I've been a member for ages, what are you talking about. Never had any problems before. I infact have posted already this afternoon and this evening!!
Is the propaganda machine going into meltdown? Has Big Hulla won?
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I don't normally post but do read the blogs and comments to ensure that i am up to date on what is happening in the wider world. i have always believed Brian to be a fair and reasonable journalist, but have noticed a tendency recently for his usual in depth perception and shrewed analysis to be a bit less tha nis usual hihj standards. is this because he is no longer devoting the time to these matters that the blog warrants, given his grequent appearances recently on the national beeb news?
I am personally concerned at the "attack snp at any costs and brush over the blatant negativity of the opposition parties" approach which appears to be becoming commonplace. i am not a member of the SNP, indeed until recently was in the Labour party, but left because it had betrayed my socialist principles. i would like to see more analysis of all the parties motives, and I think Brian can commence that by
asking Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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Brian,
Will you ask Mr Gray if he unequivocally agrees with the leader of his party and the UK prime minister that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
Your threads to date on al-Megrahi have been an affront to your readership and done no good to the supposedly impartial BBC's reputation, but you can recover your reputation by asking on straightforward question and publishing both the fact and the answer here. You'll surely be seeing Mr Gray this week in Holyrood, so it shouldn't be difficult.
To fellow posters here, my apologies for being "off-air" for the last few days, due to router problems. Tomorrow, Brownedova and I are off on a tour of the Balkans. My laptop hasn't been banned, but opportunities to use it are likely to be fairly limited, so I'll say farewell until late September.
Post or reactive moderation for all except CBeebies, please!
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You asked Brian "So where are we now?"
answer "here"
"Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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Brian,
You do not seem to have considered that Kenny MacAskill simply acted out of compassion. You know him better than I do so perhaps you would share your opinions on that? I last met him twenty two years ago, at the adoption meeting for Mungo Bovey as the SNP candidate in Edinburgh East. I was struck by how kind and considerate he was. Has he changed? Or is he as decent a human being as he was then? If you're not too busy asking the leader of the Labour Group in the Scottish Parliament if he agrees with the Prime Minister that it would have been wrong for Mr al-Megrahi to die in jail, perhaps you would care to comment?
Oldnat, are you still Stateside? If so, I trust you're enjoying the rather pleasant weather that we have (at last).
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as a side line, i went to sign this petition,
[Online petition:"Scotland supports Kenny MacAskill's compassionate justice"]
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/CompassionateJusticeScotland?e
i note it now has over 900 signatures, whilst one opposing the decision which has been running for 5 days longer only has 510. looks like Scotland is 2 to 1 in favour of the decision
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So far I make it 41 requests to confirm the Gray man's position on al-Megrahi.
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WHO LEAKED THE RELEASE????
Where is Mandy when you need him? Is he on holiday with Wee Jim?
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#92. At 10:40pm on 01 Sep 2009, mrbfaethedee wrote:
Just watched Goldie assert that she'd not yet seen compelling medical evidence yet. I take if she had a prognosis given to her from a medical expert backed up by several consultants and a palliative care team she'd be laughing it off as stuff and nonsense.
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It is, unfortunately, obvious that the only thing the opposition parties will consider "evidence" is Mr. al-Megrahi lying dead at their feet. I'm sorry to say I suspect this may not be long in coming. Personally, I do not wish him to die to prove Mr. MacAskill's point.
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#102 Skip_NC
Hi.
Yes - staying near Winstom-Salem till the end of the month. I thoughht Monday's weather was wonderful - soft rain and a mice temperature in the mid 60s!
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In the wake of tonight's revelations from Bill Rammell it was fascinating to watch Gordon Brewer pasting the blustering Scottish Labour MSP to the wall on Newsnight Scotland when he tried to deny Iain Gray and the party were up the creek minus a paddle. Brian, if Gordon Brewer can do it so can you!
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Brian,
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
I think we may be waiting a while for Brian to ask the question. I heard a rumour that he has actually got a new job. He is to be Labour MP (Media Pimp) for the constituency of Pathetic Quay (Glasgow South), this is taking up a lot of his time.
But just in case he does find the time -
"Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?"
And let's not stop the fun, Tom Morton was asking for jokes about how many people it takes to change a lightbulb, so I sent one in -
How many Labour MPs does it take to change a lightbulb?
One, but he needs five BBC Scotland reporters to cheer him on and say it was the SNP's fault it blew in the first place.
Strangely he never read it out?
The day of reckoning will come for the Beeb.
LJ
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Does Gordon know WHO LEAKED THE RELEASE?
Where is the Secretary of State for Scotland?
Does HE know WHO LEAKED THE RELEASE?
Maybe Milliband would know WHO LEAKED THE RELEASE?
Does Gordon know Milliband's secrets?
So many questions...
I'm sure Mandy would get to the bottom of it!
Where is Mandy when you need him?
Does Said have a yacht?
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105. X_Sticks
"WHO LEAKED THE RELEASE????"
Yes Brian, there's a question that'd make a good investigation for a beeb journalist don't you think?
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Brian you have answered bloggers before on this web site. Please have the courage to respond to those who are appealing to you to give some honest reporting. Let us know where you stand on this issue.
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To Mr B. Taylor,
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
From Thomas Porter
Scottish Labour have attempted to make the release on compassionate grounds a political issue, however Gordon Brown must not have reminded Iain Gray that, Brown, wished to see Al Megrahi returned to Libya too through the Pisoner Transfer Agreement. Is this embarressing, or what? Iain Gray is acting high and mighty and insisting as First Minister, Al Megrahi would never have been released! Especially without mentioning that a First Minister does not make the decision, so it was quite clear Iain Gray was seeking to receive support from the deaths of 270 individuals. This certainly is the lowest points of the Scottish Parliament.
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10/10 for the moderators tonight!
Great job folks.
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Brian:
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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Reading through Brian's blog here and further to my post #793 in the previous thread there is an increasingly desperate attempt to keep Kenny MacAskill's name linked to the, "Deal in the desert", which Blair initiated and Brown ratified, especially in Scotland. It has two purposes.
1. It deflects attention from everbody's favourite PM Gordon Brown, and
2. It smears the SNP with deals done by Labour and Gadaffi in Libya in 2007.
The problem for the Scottish media is that the London media don't really care about the SNP and care even less what happens to them but they do scent blood in the revelations coming out about Straw and Brown. The Scottish Media's attempt to keep Kenny MacAskill and the SNP in the frame appears to be losing traction, especially south of the border.
Why would Kenny MacAskill do a deal to help Brown and Straw with their diplomatic relations Libya? To put it bluntly there is no kickback for the SNP in helping the Labour Government in Westminster.
I just watched Newsnicht with Gordon Brewer, Michael Matheson (SNP), Richard Baker (Labour), Robert Brown (LibDem) and Bill Aitken (Tory) and it was hilarious. When Richard Baker was asked if Gordon Brown's support for Megrahi's release invalidated everything Iain Gray had said he just went off into mumble mode and trying to avoid the answer which was staring everbody else in the face.
Robert Brown pretended that Charles Kennedy and David Steele coming out in favour of Kenny MacAskill meant nothing and Bill Aitken gobbled like some old Colonel and repeated the words "appalling" and "Kenny MacAskill" for several minutes at a stretch.
What are the unionist factions going to accuse Kenny MacAskill of? They can't fault him for anything but are still trying desperately to make the prison visit an issue.
Tomorrow in the Scottish Parliament is going to be fun.
Labour have just had their MSP Group Leader's claim that he would have kept Megrahi in Prison blown out of the water with the revelations about Brown's opinion on keeping Megrahi, the Lib-Dems are in two minds which is probably a lot less than normal and the Conservatives are going to gobble a lot and shout "appalling" in posh voices.
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# 112. At 11:44pm on 01 Sep 2009, you wrote:
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Oh, dear. Apparently mention of a certain song (sometimes considered Scotland's national anthem) originally sung by the Corries is forbidden because it is "under copyright." So they will now blank it out when it is sung at games?
Oh, my. I'm holding my breath to see that.
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I see, according to the Times, the tory peer Lord Trefgarne also wrote to the Scottish Government urging them to release Al-Megrahi. Do Auntie Annabel and just-call-me-Dave know this?
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106. JRMacClure
"Personally, I do not wish him to die to prove Mr. MacAskill's point."
Agreed, though I think I'm right in saying that the Channel 4 report tonght claimed his condition was worsening. I can almost hear the opposition claiming their objections to the quantity of medical evidence were made in principle.
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Brian
As I remember it the BBC was given to "understand" that Mr al-Megrahi was to be released. Does the BBC now "understand" that they were used, again? Don't be alarmed, my name is not Hutton.
Knowing Iain Gray as you do, it is not surprising that you have little time for conspiracy theories; it would undoubtedly show why so, if you were to ask him, on the record, if he always agreed with Gordon that Mr al-Megrahi dying in prison would have been unwanted.
On a completely different perspective, I thought the professions weren't allowed to advertise and definitely not allowed to comment publicly on the ability of others in the profession. Doesn't this also apply to Doctors? Or is it part of the Parliamentary privilege of Holyrood even though the regulation of professions is a reserved matter? In which case can Ms C Grahame(?) name her suspect bomber even though foreign affairs are reserved?
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124. JRMacClure
Why thank you Ms. And now you know there's at least one person in Scotland, yes I actually live here, who would rather die on my feet than live on my knees.
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Someone refered my #110 to the Moderators.
Anyone care to own up to it? I'd like to know what part of what I said offended you or the BBC so much.
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From TimesOnline:
A Libyan government spokesman said al-Megrahi was “deteriorating fast”, adding: “Only God knows when it will be over but he is dying now.”
Ahem. Do you suppose I would be moderated if I quoted Parcel o' Rogues in a Nation? It seems appropriate on just ANY of number of levels.
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#126. At 00:29am on 02 Sep 2009, MagisterIlluminatus wrote:
124. JRMacClure
Why thank you Ms. And now you know there's at least one person in Scotland, yes I actually live here, who would rather die on my feet than live on my knees.
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I have never made the slightest secret that I do not, yet you make that sound like an accusation. And insults mean you won't die on your knees. Some people are to proud to stoop to such behavior. It's a pity that you're not. None the less, it might surprise you to know that in spite of your name-calling, I have to respect your having the backbone to continue to stand up for your beliefs.
Now please get enough pride to do it with dignity instead of in the dirt.
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Brian,
Your blog post seems to say that the documents tell us little we did not know. It presents set of suppositions then continues to say that the docements offer no evidence for them.
From what we actually know now, one of the earliest hypotheses is more strongly backed by evidence -
The UK gov wanted Megrahi released but couldn't do it and didn't want to be seen to do it anyway in case the American gov was (or was obliged to be) livid.
The UK gov pimped the idea of prisoner transfer to the Scottish gov, so that the Scottish gov would take the heat from the US gov for breaking an agreement on prisoner transfer.
The Scottish gov ruled out prisoner transfer due to the belief that the US had reached agreements with UK pre-trial (at this point the attempted stitch up must have been crystal clear).
The Scottish gov then continued to do (and this is usually the best advice for anyone surrounded by deceit or people on the make) what was entirely the right thing - play it straight, be honest and principled.
The end result is that MacAskill then has to rule on compassionate release. He happens to opt for mercy - that is actually the aside to the political/'statecraft' story, despite being the reason for its profile.
But no, without evidence that it happened, and without anyone even hinting at what could possibly motivate the Scottish Government, we are now expected to believe that the Scottish Government did the bidding of the UK govt!
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You couldn't make it up.The labour party are all over the place as are the tories and the democrats. What is the debate tomorrow? whether the opposition parties have a collective view to oppose the release of Mr Al, Megrahi.
It really is becoming monty python stuff now! Mr Gray's peoples party? would like to table a motion to oppose the proposal accepted by his leader, the foreign secretary and the home secretary.
"Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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I think some people are trying to hint at something......
Conspiracy theory time, but an internal Labour one.
I wonder if there are plans afoot within Labour to install Alan Johnson as PM, and at the same time get rid of Iain Gray in Scotland. The timing is about right, getting some new leadership just before the return to Westminster. The Chancellor is replaced, but the Foreign Secretary remains since I consider him to be part of the plan.
The hand of a certain Lord is behind all this, knowing that releasing the documents would put the PM on the spot and corner Iain Gray. The good Lord has no intention of becoming PM, since he knows he is media fodder. But Alan Johnson would be more popular, and especially with the Unions.
So they get rid of the PM, up the public popularity (not enough to save them perhaps, but Cameron isn't exactly setting the healther alight) and get some oil into the bargain.
On THE question, what's the betting Alex Salmond fires that one across the chamber tomorrow?
---------------
#121. MagisterIlluminatus wrote:
Releasing confidential medical information is illegal. And what right does anyone outside the legal process have to see it?
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125. At 00:13am on 02 Sep 2009, handclapping wrote:
In which case can Ms C Grahame(?) name her suspect bomber even though foreign affairs are reserved?
Even if she had Parliamentary privilege, I don't think she would name him. For starters, she would be making accusations against someone who is presumed innocent and it would cause a diplomatic uproar.
I know she can be a loose cannon at times, but not that much surely.
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Just another wee nugget for Auntie Annabel, hobbit bill and the grey man, slightly off topic, but buried in the hootsman
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/latestnews/SNP-honours-promise-of-1000.5607302.jp
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Well, now who could that have been? You don't suppose it was our friendly Magister over there, do you? Surely not! Maybe he'll refer all our comments calling for Mr. Taylor to ask Mr. Gray if he agrees with Gordon Brown that al-Megrahi should not have died in a Scottish prison?
That would be fun. =)
But I wish all the Scots would stop going to bed just because it's the middle of the night there. Down with time zones.
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Newsnight was a hoot; I mean tawit ortwo! The Unionists are cacking themselves. Up a small river of faeces without an implement to propel themselves. I nearly laughed.
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121. MagisterIlluminatus
Via - 124. JRMacClure
What medical notes do you want besides the notes already provided on the Scottish Govt website?
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Someone want to complain about my comment #124? I won't object since I quote #121 which has since been moderated. I wouldn't mind seeing his childish completely removed and they should have moderated my response since I quoted him.
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Re-post from previous thread:
Brian, just after watching your piece to camera on the national news.
By focussing on the fact that Kenny MacAskill explained to Megrahi that he would have to drop his appeal before a PTA could come into force, then state he was only telling Megrahi a legal fact, you subtly imply otherwise (i.e. are we doing a deal or are we doing a deal?).
Why did you not focus on the correspondence where Kenny MacAskill notes he cannot and will not approve a PTA in part due to possible prior assurances given to the US families pre-trial regarding prisoner arrangements (no info given by Straw on this it adds) and ALSO to be above reproach regarding the appeal and the PTA application.
It's there in black and white that he greatly desired to avoid the perception that the dropping of the appeal and the PTA were linked, especially as Megrahi had told the Lybians he was willing to do so in exchange for a PTA to go ahead.
The way you reported it left a bad taste in the mouth and no doubt will be taken in the incorrect manner by some that viewed the broadcast.
To top it all off you then tell us it's all academic as he denied the PTA, no explanation as to why (as above), but released him on compassionate grounds, like he had circumvented the problem that way.
Impartial broadcasting at it's best. When will the media come around to the idea of separation between what Westminster does in it's dodgy foreign dealings and a judicial decision based on our legal system, wouldn't bet on it being anytime soon.
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134. JRMacClure
I'm afraid I too, like MasterLightbulb, live in Scotland - and will have to say goodnight.
Before I go - entertaining as his exit was - i do hope bughullabaloo is back soon, I'd hate to think his account has actually been closed given the response, it'd be rather petty.
Perhaps we'd have to make repeated requests for his reinstatement throughout some comments pages :)
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labour in scotland should have a different viewpoint to labour at wastemonster. we complain they are puppets and simply follow what they are told, but when gray courageously? has a different opinion, rightly or wrongly, then he is blamed for not spouting the party line.
oppostion to a view in a political party is healthy, the view of the leader should not be repeated verbatim as correct, as happens in north korea.
gray should be able to explain that yes, he does not have the same view as brown but a party should be allowed to have different viewpoints.
all the fudging so a blurred repsonse which does not contradict anyone is given as a standard policy clearly suggests a different problem.
all th posters simply wnat to confirm that gray ahs a different view to brown. clearly that is the case. whetehr he believes it or said it to bring about political mischief making is now a factor.
the more we hear, with bklair and brown committing their colours to the mast, as did mandelson recently, then the less likely gray would have done anything different. whilst labour in scotland was previously a rubber stamp for wastemonster, on this issue i would expect no different in private discussions and dealings had labour won in scotland in 2007.
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#137 JRMacClure
You are allowed to refer your own posts.
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Woe is me, it seems that the US media are trying just as hard to confuse issues and keep the story running with as much emotion and as little fact as possible. If you thought the BBC's articles were bad take a look at CNN's recent efforts. I still don't think they've got their head around the separation between Westminster and the Scottish government.
CNN's headline : "Libya threatened U.K. on Lockerbie bomber, notes show"
The artical basically implies Kenny MacAskill caved in to threats from the nasty Lybians, with pure fabrications such as the documents indicated Scotland's leaders had long feared the warming of relations between Libya and Britain would force Scotland to hand over al Megrahi.
Only at the end of the article do they bother to note with a single line that Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds due to terminal cancer and not due to the much vaunted PTA.
Also, see the article: "Lockerbie bomber: I prayed to 'see my parents before I die'"
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I personally cant wait to hear GC re-utter those immortal words -
"...the defining moment for the Scottish Government....."
For the first time in my life I think I agree with him...
IT's TIME!!
Now, how does that well known wee ditty by Bob D go again...
"Come senators, congressmen please heed the call....
ALBA GU BRATH
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#142. At 01:26am on 02 Sep 2009, oldnat wrote:
#137 JRMacClure
You are allowed to refer your own posts.
------------------
Thanks. I'll keep that in mind if the issue comes up again.
I see that someone referred it for me and it has been removed as was our friends newest effort. :)
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Even better than CNN's coverage is the Wall Street Journals:
"Gadhafi Shows His True Colors"
No mincing of words, apparently it's a fact that Megrahi's release was negotiated in return for oil and gas exploration contracts, citing a Herald article as the source. Apparently Scotland and Britain have disgraced themselves, I'll give this one credit at least for recognising that there's a difference, pity he still couldn't get his facts straight though.
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#141 MagisterIlluminatus
I must say that the pomposity of your style, your occasional references to sources of information not open to others, and your frequent descent into ad hominem attacks and insulting language is strangely reminiscent of our departed friend ReluctantExpat.
I wonder why that should be. :-)
Like him, you also make wholly irrelevant points. Of course, the Crown dropped their appeal against sentence following al-Megrahi's release on compassionate grounds.
They said "The Lord Advocate has now had the opportunity to consider reports regarding Mr Megrahi's medical condition and prognosis.
"Mr Megrahi is now terminally ill."
"Had he remained in custody, he would have had no prospect ofserving the current punishment part of his sentence, let alone anyincreased sentence that the Lord Advocate was seeking,"
"That together with his release means that the outcome of any appeal could have no practical effect whatsoever for Mr Megrahi."
If you knew anything, you would know that not only does Elish Angiolini not take orders from MacAskill. She isn't even a member of the SNP. To their credit, the Scottish Government reappointed Ms Angiolini as Lord Advocate for the same reason as the previous Lab/LD coalition appointed her (to their credit). She is a fine lawyer and no one's political stooge.
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If you really want to cringe then read the independents article by commentator Geoffrey Robertson:
"Geoffrey Robertson: Megrahi should never have been freed"
Words fail me on this one.
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http://www.snptacticalvoting.com/2009/09/labours-divergence-on-megrahi.html
"So does Gordon Brown agree with Kenny MacAskill that Al-Megrahi should have been released or does he agree with Iain Gray that he should have stayed in jail? It's certainly kicking up quite a stooshie in the comments field of Brian Taylor's blog."
And SNP Tactical Voting is one of the featured blogs on Andrew Rawnsley's Politics Home - so it's even possible that some real journalists will pick up on our theme tonight.
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Oh, that reminds me.
Mr. Taylor, are you going to ask Mr. Gray if he agrees with Gordon Brown that Mr. al-Magrahi should not have stayed in jail?
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OMG.
LOOK at this headline from BBC.
Lockerbie release to be condemned
That is the MOST shameful thing I have ever seen from ANY supposedly respectable news organization!
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How nice of the BBC to decide that little NICETIES usual to a democracy such as debate and voting are unnecessary.
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A fun article in the Herald.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2528689.0.Brown_Dont_let_Megrahi_die_inside_a_Scots_prison.php
Ireally liked the despairing non-sequitor from Labour's Richard Baker (he who would have to be told what to do by Gray!) at the end.
However I note that either no one asked Gray if he agreed with Gordon Brown, or he "wasn't available" (ie no one had told him what to say yet).
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Mr Taylor, will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al-Megrahi to die in jail? I have re-posted this question because I cannot but agree that a journalist should be eager to ask it, just as eager, probably, as Gray will be reluctant to answer it.
A further point: Mr Taylor, will you ask Jack McConnell if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al-Megrahi to die in jail? Jack will not welcome this question either, of course, as he is a good lad not given to biting the hand that feeds him, the Labour Party having been very generous to him since he left the SNP.
For more on lesser-known aspects of the third First Minister's career turn to
http://frankly.yolasite.com/index/crossed-wires
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A lucid analysis from the Herald of the documentation.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/news/display.var.2528680.0.The_Megrahi_dossier_why_he_was_set_free.php
The herald is going up in my estimation.
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Who really cares what Ian Gray thinks or says.. even his London masters do not keep him in the picture, even if they had an opinion ... God Imagine that duffer running Scotland. It would be a bit like Broon running the UK. shame on them
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#151 JRMacClure
The link to the BBC/Pravda story is
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8232734.stm
What a ragtag and bobtail of opposition arguments!
"The Labour amendment states Mr MacAskill mishandled the decision and damaged Scotland's reputation.
It also says the minister should not have met Megrahi in prison while considering his case and that he failed to seek sufficient medical advice on the bomber's condition.
A Conservative amendment has raised concern Megrahi was not allowed to remain in Scotland, a move ruled out by ministers on police resourcing grounds.
The Liberal Democrats will argue the news of his release should have been announced to parliament, not at a news conference."
Scotland deserves better opposition parties than this!
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And this from ths Scotsman
http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Alex-has-a-laugh-with.5607845.jp
Have the Scottish media (apart from the UK controlled Beeb) finally learned the lesson?
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Scotland deserves a better BBC than this! I still consider that headline absolutely shameful. From Fox News it would be what I expected. And you PAY A LICENSE FEE for that?
Good God. Whichever side of the argument you happen to be on--that is shameful.
I do wonder if they have the guts to push Salmond to the point of possibly forcing an election. That would be interesting to watch, but that's from a foreigner's perspective. From the perspective of a Scot, you would at least have to slap a few politicians HARD.
Sheesh. I'm ashamed of myself that at one time I had respect for the BBC. How could I have been so stupid?
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My, my. The BBC, strangely enough, has decided maybe they should let the MSPs vote before they declare a winner. New headline:
MSPs to debate bomber's release
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Well now Brian, it seems that a number of your readers have the same question, namely:
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
I realise it's the middle of the night in Scotland, but maybe you could oblige in the morning. Fell free to ask Annabel the same question.
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#160 JRMacClure
Maybe some are beginning to recognise that their jobs are under threat if we do vote for independence, so maybe the UK state isn't the safe haven they thought?
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Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
Late, but the answer to this is likely as predictable as the fixed vote we await.
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#159 JRMacClure
I tried to respond to your post, but it may have been my admiration for the US stopping the Brit's last go it alone imperial adventure over Suez that annoyed someone.
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#164 That is certainly possible. It would be if I were a Scot! Mind you, the article isn't any better but at least the headline has been changed.
Apparently the BBC doesn't have a lot of concern about being respected as an impartial news source. Good to know.
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Haha! Yes, I saw that you annoyed someone. I'm sure that the Suez is a verboten subject for them. Can't have you mentioning something like that! =)
What time is this debate thingie? And will it be where we can see it on this side of the pond? Or do we only get the snippets that BBC thinks meets their little slant on things?
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The Beeb's sub text on thgis story is also interesting -
"The Scottish Parliament is expected to vote to condemn the Holyrood government's handling of the Lockerbie bomber's case."
No longer the decision but the presentation of it!
There have been regular press reports (repeated by Unionist bloggers like northhighglander) that the SNP "mishandled" the release of al-Megrahi. I don't remember seeing any detail of this charge. I do hope that some Unionists are going to put some meat on the bones of this skeleton tomorrow.
It will be so easy to rebut.
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Funny but this has caused me to pull out my Corries CDs. Sitting here listening to Ronnie Browne's absolutely breathtaking rendition of Turn Ye Tae Me. Some good has come out of it. lol
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167 JRMacClure
Should be around 3pm EST.
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/businessBulletin/bb-09/bb-09-02.htm
I'm presuming that the debate will be live on the Parliament website, though I'm likely to be busy and will miss it.
On a happier (or unhappier!) note Scotland's last two World Cup qualifiers are being streamed on the net over here!
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Suggestions for a new inscription on the Canongate wall of the Parliament
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/holyrood/faq/answers/art007-quotes.htm
My favourite is Seamus Heaney's
"At their inauguration, public leaders
Must swear to uphold unwritten law and weep
To atone for their presumption to hold office"
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Brian look out your window ...there is a small plane towing a banner. It says on it '"Brian ask Ian Gray whether he agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail."
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Interesting that the Secretary of State for Scotland , he who has popped up unbidden and is available for weddings, funerals,bar mitzvahs, christenings , and envelope openings, not to mention wee "scoops" for the press, has no comment to make on this - nothing -zilch -nada!
Also interesting to note that MsGoldie is straw clutching at medical evidence.
Noisy Nicol the Nose has become most quiet too!
Conflating the desires of the UK government with the Scottish Government is DISHONEST.
I repeat , DISHONEST.
GAABERDEEN, sadly even though most can read ,the BBBC knows perfectly well that there are many who will listen to their reports and take them as gospel, hence the reason for being able to spin a tale and be believed.
Which is utterly DISHONEST.
I too look forward to Mr Grays answer to Mr Taylors question.
Ian Gray must now say unequivocally whether he agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail.
As to the " handling" of this release , I would also like a detailed account of how each leader would have handled it.
,
Ms Goldie
Mr Scott
and last ,but very much least,
Mr Gray
Do you think you can handle that Mr Taylor or do you need an angry mob with pitchforks to help you?
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#172. Hahaha! That's a good one.
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Online independence poll here at the granuiad -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/poll/2009/sep/01/scotland-alexsalmond
Interesting result so far ;o)
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#174 JRMacClure .. i hoped your switched those Corries records off now !!
Just heard Bill Rammell on the radio i think his record got stuck.
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Yeah, I finally switched off the Corries. They did one fine version of Dumbarton's Drums though. I recommend it--preferably with a nice Laphroaig on the side.
It's getting late here but it's tempting to stay up and watch the stooshie (as some of my Scots friends would put it) in parliament. I'll probably take a nap first though. I imagine it'll be a while before things hot up.
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Just heard the latest on the Donald Trump/ Balmedie beach affair. They have a handful of homeowners who dont want to sell up. Does anybody else think thats its very much the scenario from Local Hero. Does Donald like Astronomy ?
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Gray on Good Morning Scotland
Not asked if he agrees with Brown, however ......
Gray on being asked if his view on this is different from Gordon Brown's view:
"Yes it is at odd's with my view"
Gray on MacAskill resigning:
"It has never been about Kenny MacAskill's position"
Gray then makes two very, very serious accusations:
On the medical opinion presented to MacAskill Gray says:
"A different view was taken by the four experts"
On the police advice:
MacAskill "misrepresented the views of the police"
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Brian
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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#177 JRMacClure
A Laphroaig? Oh me - a man after my own heart :)
I'm heartened by the presence of a fellow Islay-phile :)
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Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
Failing that ask him if he disagrees with Nelson Mandela.
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Mr Taylor,
Bearing in mind that "The BBC exists to serve the public interest" (3.1 Royal Charter for the continuance of the British Broadcasting Corporation), will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
We already had a flavour of how Gray would answer 'Brian's question' on Newsnight Scotland last night accompanied by much stuttering, stammering and sweating. The disappointing thing was that the other oppositon politicians showed their small mindeness by being luke warm about attacking Labour's position. A pathetic line up if ever I saw one.
I am sure that Gray will do everything to avoid being asked the question and I am sure that Brian will ably assist him to achieve that goal.
Not much being said about a free vote so I must assume that the whips will be out in strength. (Guantanamo/Holyrood, is there a difference?).
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Brian,
Where did your bit about "to strengthen global security" come from?
Oh, I really hit a sore point there, didn't I?
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Ian Gray must now say unequivocally whether he agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail.
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morning . listened to Mr Gray on the radio . Is it just me - Has Mr Gray actually discussed this situation with Mr Brown at all??
Meanwhile back in the bunker,Mr Brown thinks he has a sure fire scheme to keep 2 opposing states sweet at the same time.
He can keep the USA on side by saying it was the SNP government that let him go and he can tell the Libyans it was the SNP government if they don't.
win win for brown he can say what he likes and not get burned. oh dear wrong again!
Mr Brown is simply practising for the next 12 years in opposition where he knows it doesn't matter what the labour party says because they don't need to deliver . on saying that he has started already.
Sid
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Who really cares...what a great deal of time being wasted by the opposition party(tories) on a witch hunt against the government,when what they should really be focusing their efforts is demonstrating that they are a serious political party that could be trusted to run the country.This situation shows yet again that the Tories are all about trying to grab the headlines,rather than address the real issues regarding the economic problems we face.
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Brian
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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Brian , after carefully removing the silver paper from my morning Tunnock's Teacake and biting savagely into it ( as you do when you love them like I do) imagine my surprise to find ensconsed in the delicious mallow centre a small carefully folded piece of paper such as one might find in a fortune cookie.
On opening I found it to read:
"Brian, Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?"
Surely it's a sign?
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Brian - Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
Please
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#179 online_ed. morning. As someone who has the t-shirt i can exclusively reveal that cancer experts do not like to come off the fence when cornered and asked for an opinion.
however when a patient reaches a stage it is clear that the end is near they will prepare relatives for the end.
this is very personal information and the MSP's demanding this information to be released and when it isn't they simply make it up are the ones bringing the Parliament into disrepute .
As far as I am concerned they are even lower than drug dealers and bankers and the sooner they are removed from our Parliament the better.
Sid
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having read the morning papers, the herald and scotsman, you could argue yesterdays information in many different ways.
However the wishes and feelings of the victims don't seem to have been given much thought. No doubt that conspiracy theories will abound as above shows.
The truth is probably far simpler. Both sets of politicians wanted the issue to go away, for entirely different reasons, without any blame being attached to them. My thought is that what we are seeing uncovered here is the grubby face of politics, where it is all about politicians and little to with either Magrahi or the victims families or compassion.
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Brian,
I wouldn't have thought that the release of a prisoner in Scotland on compassionate ground could bring down a Westminster government, but there you go.
They just keep chipping away at themselves, don't they.
They seem to have been implanted with lemming genes or something.
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Brian - Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
Please
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#193 grassyknollington- one of the best post's on this thread and that is saying something.
respects to BIG -H - every group needs a leader and as corporal Jones used to say "they don't like it up them captain!!"
Sid.
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Brian - Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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....right decision or wrong decision, who will ever know the truth. At least Kenny McAskill made a decision.
What this does show is Scotland is no pawn of the USA and ready to take it's own place in the world.
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On the police advice:
MacAskill "misrepresented the views of the police"
Oh really, has Mr Angry Grey read the Scotsman this morning?
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Brian
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
This is a very serious question now. Does it mean that Scottish Labour have a different view point from Westminster Labour.
This has blown up in Labours faces. And make no bones about it...most Scots do believe that Megrahi was stitched up - that this was a miscarriage of justice - that those in power have continued to make a mockery of the dead by hiding the truth.
As we Scots, and those of other nations consider Scotland to be one of the most 'enlightened nations'; it doesn't matter whether Mr MacAskill was right or wrong, most people do feel that to have released Megrahi on 'compassionate' grounds was the correct thing to do. It raised Scotland way above all other nations, and showed the World that at least 1 nation in the Western World definitely had the integrity and the moral guidance within its soul, to stand up and DO the correct thing.
Scotland in time will be viewed with a deeper gravity as a place where the people of that nation can be trusted, and to be trusted to do and say the right thing.
We asked for nothing in return...yet, everything might come to us. As a nation that showed its compassionate face, we might find that the Arab and Muslim World, the Indians and Chinese may want to do business with us because we WON'T deceive them.
So yes Brian...
Will you please ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
Bet the man had wished he had kept his trap shut !!
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Dear Brian,
I am a huge fan of your political coverage and greatly enjoy this blog.
I think you should have stated explicitly that the release of yesterday's documents are more of a problem for Labour than the SNP.
Essentially they reveal that Westminster Labour were sympathetic to getting Al Megrahi out of Scotland on a PTA. This makes it very difficult for Scottish Labour to go for the SNP's jugular for the issue.
In this particular case the Conservatives should be leading the opposition as their position is consistent UK-wide. The Lib Dem releases have been half-hearted in their condemnation of the SNP, particular as leading lights such as David Steel broadly support the decision.
There are two key problems for the SNP which have lessened with the release of the documents but have not gone away. (1) Kenny MacAskill's decision to visit Al Megrahi in jail. If they made one mistake this was it. It ran the risk of conflating compassionate release with guilt or innocence and gave the impression of deal-making. (2) Whether there is a link between London's sympathy to the release of Al-Megrahi as part of a PTA and the SNP's decision to free him on compassionate grounds. There is NO such link - but the suspicion of one, partly created by a feverish media is dangerous for the SNP.
I think the BBC is in danger of implying that (2) is taken as read, whilst ignoring the increasingly contradictory approach taken by Scottish and Westminster Labour. At the moment Labour are trying to have their cake (a better London-Tripoli relationship) and eat it (blaming SNP for the release of Al-Megrahi).
Thank you for your continuing excellent coverage,
C
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In the cold dark silence of the middle of the Scottish night, a lonely dog howled once, and this appeared:
"Lockerbie release to be condemned" (Wed Sep 02 01:31:42 2009)
To be replaced an hour and a half later by this: "MSPs to debate bomber's release" (Wed Sep 02 02:41:15 2009)
The headline switches from wholly prejudging the outcome of the debate: "Lockerbie release to be condemned" to "MSPs to debate bomber's release" in the space of a couple of hours.
The first headline betrays the biased prejudicial thinking of the writer. However, that original writer, or one of his colleagues, decided it had crossed "the line".
"The line" is where facts are presented in such a way that they can only be interpreted in one light: favourable to Scotland's opposition parties.
This subtle spin is usually just enough to mislead the casual reader, but hardly ever enough for anyone to point at it and say: "bias!"
Unfortunately they're not as good at it as they like to believe. Sometimes they over-egg the pudding. They're forced to go back in and make hasty edits, as in the example above.
We can't have the proles being jolted out of their gentle slumber of affectionate trust in good old Auntie BBC now, can we?
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Saltire100 203
Good post. Had a wee laugh at the Gray comment. Ta for that.
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So, did anyone watch the game last night? Oh, almost forgot:
Brian - Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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204
Who cares that he visited him. It's only the Unionists ridiculous attempt to pin something onto KM. The goalposts are moved everyday. What will the Unionist cabal do next? A clueless bunch of dimwits with no integrity. You can see in their faces that they are squirming, even Annabel and she's a tory! Despicable lot! Any sane person knows that all of this will strengthen the SNP.
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Brian.
Will you ask Iain Gray, Murphy, McConnell if they unequivocally agree with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in prison?
For once, have the guts to answer this and do the right thing!
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Was visiting Mr Megrahi an act of compassion?
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'Will you please ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?'
Oh go on you know you want to...
Brian - I can detect a wee squirm from you in your presenting. Almost as if you don't believe what you're saying, anyway we don't!
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Brian,
This is a clear case of double dealing by Mr. Brown & Co.Plc. assisted by their competitors in the market; Mr. Cameron & Co.Plc.
What a strange market place indeed!
It's a 'Scottish Matter' i.e. if he dies in prison we'll not be pleased and our goons at Hollyrood will give you a hard time because they'll quote the Human Rights issue. If you let him go, we will wash our hands of it all, dry them and give the dirty towel to out aforesaid goons to wipe the floor with you.
Now get yourselves out of that one if you can!
Additionally; I believe it was a Labour administration which re-named the Square in Glasgow after Nelson Mandela.. but then again; that was a Scottish Matter too (or was it?).
Why was it so difficult to discover the double helix? all they needed to do was expose the back-bones (if they can be found) of some of the Scottish opposition - I bet they'd have found a pefect twister!
The firework has mis-fired!
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Today is the day.
Today we see if a question that should be asked - would be asked - by any genuinely impartial political commentator, is actually asked.
If this question is not asked let there be no more ridiculous claims of BBC "impartiality".
Let there be no more patronising Unionist put-downs about "conspiracy theories".
This is the litmus test that will prove BBC bias once and for all.
On this day the spin will finally be clearly seen under the spotlight of public scrutiny.
The hard, unflinching spotlight of truth.
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I've just watched the session at Holyrood. Now I am all for free speech , but for crying out loud, the Conservative, labour and Liberal Dems are half making a meal out of this, and it is painful to watch. These are the people that we rely on for opposition, but it is like watching a kid who had been told no by their mother when asking for another sweetie " but mum" "but mum" "but mum"
I would like all of the Scottish Government to now look at having a look back at the trial itself, for the sake of the victims, to insist on any evidence wether it be to the liking of the US or Westminster then tough no more Politics from this sorry affair, we need closure for the victims and we will only get that by the truth,
but you and I know that won't happen because we are only the plebs and diplomacy is more important.
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As william Shakespeare would have put it.
To ask or not to ask that is the question.
Brian - Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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Come on Brian- If the boot was on the other foot you would asking Eck this without our prompting SO -
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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I heard Iain Gray being asked this question on Good morning scotland today, and he answered that Gordon Brown had said it was a question for Scottish ministers, and therefore, he said, he was perfectly justified in his opinion.
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I listened to Dr Jim Swire being interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland this morning. He has my total respect for his intelligent, objective, rational view of the whole al-Megrahi affair. Would that our politicians and journalists had half of his integrity.
Apologies for the length of this post, but I felt that those here who cannot access the BBC iPlayer might want an idea of what Dr Swire had to say. I will do my best to summarise;
Dr Swire like most of the rest of us, is very disappointed in the petty political point scoring shown by the opposition parties in Holyrood, and that Lockerbie was too great a tragedy to be reduced to this. He said that now al_Megrahi is gone; what has he left behind? He has left a report from the SCCRC which states that there may have been a miscarriage of justice. He has left a statement from the UN International Observer that the perverse verdict on al_Megrahi could only have been reached by deliberate malpractice by the Crown Office. He also took with him the option of the 2nd appeal, which would have been the best route to get to the truth over the atrocity. He called for something to replace the appeal. He suggested that Alex Salmond should appoint a commission to investigate the very, very serious international allegations over Crown Office Procecution Service. He felt it was important to the relative to know if al_megrahi was actually guilty of the crime. Many of the relatives including Mr Swire don't believe he was. One of the main reasons Dr Swire doesn't belive that al-Megrahi was guilty was the break in at the Heathrow baggage area the night before the flight which had access to the Pan Am baggage area. The information regarding the break in was recorded, but was kept hidden for 12 years until after the verdict had been reached against al_Megrahi. There was no evidence led of how al-Megrahi could have placed the bomb at Malta airport. If the Heathrow information had been available then the trial would have had to have been stopped. Dr Swire, along with other relatives, wanted to know who suppressed the information about Heathrow for 12 years. Did the Crown Office know about it during those 12 years, and if so, why was this information not passed to the Defence as they were duty bound to do? He felt that Alex Salmond needs to launch some sort of commission of inquiry with the power to require members of the CO to give an account of how they behaved during those 12 years, and also how they behaved throughout the second appeal where Dr Swire felt that the CO was displaying a deliberate delaying tactic throughout the appeal. Dr Swire wanted an inquiry to find out wwhat had gone wrong with the Prosecution Service, not just with Lockerbie, but in other cases as well such as the fingerprint case. It should be a hard hitting inquiry, not necessarily with a Scottish head, but possibly someone respected internationally.
He said that there were so many conspiracy theories that it might
never be possible to get to the truth, and that he thought it doubtful that the intelligence services information would ever be penetrated, but that an inquiry or commission would expose the al_Megrahi trial as unfair. If there is no inquiry or appeal in Scotland Dr Swire thought that the only other possible ways forward would be either to present the case to the UN General Assembly or through the legal route under Human Rights, which gives the victims falilies the right to know who murdered their families and why the government of the day failed to protect
them, and why the government has refused to allow any kind of inquiry into the truth behind the disaster that killed them. Dr Swire gave his personal view as to why al-Megrahi dropped his appeal. He said that in talks with al_Megrahi he was impressed with al-Megrahi's desire to clear his name before he went home to his family. When he withdrew his appeal he must have felt that death was very close, and maybe that changed his mind, or alternatively, perhaps someone told him that dropping the appeal might help with his release. If the was an inquiry it might
provide some answers.
He said that Kenny MacAskill made the right decision for the
right reasons, which in the long run will probably go down to
Scotland's credit.
I for one, believe that the only way forward from here is, as Dr Swire believes, is an inquiry with a powerful and internationally respected leader that has the clout to force those involved to reveal the truth.
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Dear Brian,
Last night i was out star gazing, as you do at night and lo and behold a lazer light shone from Edinburgh castle.
The lazer light beam focused on a passing cloud and i could clearly read the words writen by the beam of light, which was as follows :- Brian.
Will you ask Iain Gray if he unequivocally agrees with Gordon Brown that it would have been wrong for al Megrahi to die in jail?
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