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Labour bomber stance 'ridiculous' SNP defeated over bomber release
(about 5 hours later)
First Minister Alex Salmond has hit out at Labour's "totally and absolutely ridiculous" position over the release of the Lockerbie bomber. The Scottish Government has suffered a defeat in parliament over its handling of the Lockerbie case.
His comments came as the Scottish Government faced likely defeat in a Holyrood debate over the case. Opposition parties united in a vote to condemn the decision to free terminally-ill Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds.
The move by opposition parties would fall short of a vote of no-confidence in the SNP government. The move fell short of a vote of no-confidence in the SNP government.
Scottish ministers freed terminally-ill Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds two weeks ago. As the vote took place, a hospital official told the BBC Megrahi had undergone chemotherapy and was now in a cancer ward in Tripoli.
Mr Salmond's attack, in a point of order before the debate got under way, came after UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband confirmed the UK government had not wanted to see Megrahi die in a Scottish prison. During a debate at the Scottish Parliament, a government motion which said Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill's decision to release the bomber was taken in accordance with the justice system was amended by a combined Labour, Conservative and the Liberal Democrat vote.
But Mr Miliband insisted there had been no "double dealing" and told the BBC the UK had "never expressed a different view" to the US over the issue. The plot thickens - deals were clearly being done Bill AitkenScottish Conservative justice spokesman
In light of the revelations, Mr Salmond urged Labour to re-think its debate amendment, which condemns the Scottish Government's handling of the case. MSPs then voted by 73 to 50 with one abstention to pass a motion stating parliament "does not agree with [Mr MacAskill's] decision to return Megrahi to Libya on compassionate release".
The first minister told parliament: "Is it in order, in terms of our procedures, since the credibility of this parliament depends to some extent on the credibility of the main opposition party, to allow the Labour Party to submit a drafting amendment, because their current position looks totally and absolutely ridiculous." It came a day after the Scottish Government released a list of documents on the case, which revealed that Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell had told the Libya the prime minister and foreign secretary did not want the Lockerbie bomber to die in a Scottish prison.
When Mr al-Megrahi chose to make representations in person, clear advice was given to me that this could hardly be denied Kenny MacAskillScottish justice secretary Mr Rammell later confirmed having made the remarks but denied having discussed this with Gordon Brown.
Despite the comments, Scottish Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker insisted Mr MacAskill mishandled the Lockerbie bomber case and had damaged Scotland as a result. And, speaking in Birmingham, the prime minister insisted: "There was no conspiracy, no cover-up, no double dealing, no deal on oil, no attempt to instruct Scottish ministers, no private assurances by me to [Libyan leader] Colonel Gaddafi."
The debate came a day after the Scottish Government released a list of documents on the issue, which included a report that a Libyan official had said Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell had told them the prime minister and foreign secretary did not want the Lockerbie bomber to die in a Scottish prison. Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said the disclosures highlighted Labour's "totally and absolutely ridiculous" position over the release of the Lockerbie bomber.
Mr Rammell has since confirmed he told Libya Mr Brown did not want to see Megrahi die in prison. However, he denied having discussed this with Gordon Brown. "The argument is not that the foreign secretary and the prime minister did anything wrong by revealing through the foreign minister to the Libyan government that they did not want Mr Al Megrahi to die in a Scottish prison," he later told parliament.
Mr Brown later said there was "no conspiracy" leading to the release of the Lockerbie bomber, adding that there had also been "no cover-up" over the UK's dealings with the Scottish or Libyan governments. "What's wrong is that, while they were doing it, Labour in Scotland - either knowing or not knowing about it - tabled a motion attacking the justice secretary."
Mr Baker told MSPs: "I believe we should make clear that there were fundamental errors in the management of this process and therefore the decision to release Mr al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds to Libya is one we cannot agree with. 'Fundamental errors'
'Plot thickens' But Scottish Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker said the Scottish Government must be held to account for the decision to release Megrahi, which has split opinion at home and abroad.
"The first minister might not like it, but his government will be held to account for the decision he and his ministers have made." "I believe we should make clear that there were fundamental errors in the management of this process and therefore the decision to release Mr al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds to Libya is one we cannot agree with," said Mr Baker.
The Scottish Conservatives' Bill Aitken said freeing Megrahi was a "mistake of international proportions". The Scottish Conservatives' Bill Aitken said freeing Megrahi was a "mistake of international proportions", adding: "From the evidence that's emerged overnight, I believe the Brown government thought that Mr Megrahi would be released, should be released, and was giving nudges and winks to the Libyans that that would be the case. The plot thickens - deals were clearly being done.".
He added: "To me, it is becoming abundantly clear that he decided to release Megrahi to Libya and has been scrambling around ever since to find the evidence to justify that decision.
"From the evidence that's emerged overnight, I also believe the Brown Government thought that Mr Megrahi would be released, should be released, and was giving nudges and winks to the Libyans that that would be the case. The plot thickens - deals were clearly being done."
Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Robert Brown said "considerable doubt" remained over whether Megrahi fulfilled the criteria for compassionate release.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill again defended his decisionJustice Secretary Kenny MacAskill again defended his decision
"It is extremely difficult to see how any future cabinet secretary could refuse any valid application for compassionate release, however heinous the crime, however short the time served, if the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing gets out after serving only a fortnight for each victim's life," he said. Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Robert Brown said "considerable doubt" remained over whether Megrahi fulfilled the criteria for compassionate release.
Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill again defended his decision to release the bomber and reject an application to return Megrahi to Libya under a prisoner transfer deal. "It is extremely difficult to see how any future cabinet secretary could refuse any valid application for compassionate release, however heinous the crime, however short the time served, if the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing gets out after serving only a fortnight for each victim's life," he said
Mr MacAskill said he had no option but to meet Megrahi in prison while considering the case. Kenny MacAskill again defended his decision to release the bomber and reject an application to return Megrahi to Libya under a prisoner transfer deal.
He added: "When Mr al-Megrahi chose to make representations in person, clear advice was given to me that this could hardly be denied." He said he was required to hold his controversial meeting with Megrahi in prison while the case was being considered, and again dismissed opposition claims that the minister had failed to seek sufficient medical advice on the condition of the Lockerbie bomber, who has prostate cancer.
And the justice secretary also hit out at opposition claims he failed to seek sufficient medical advice on Megrahi's condition, telling MSPs this included comments from Scottish Prison Service director of health, Dr Andrew Fraser, "one of Scotland's most eminent doctors".
Mr MacAskill said: "Dr Fraser had access to all Mr al-Megrahi's medical records and conferred with NHS consultants as part of drafting his advice on compassionate release.
"This included the NHS cancer consultant who acted as an external reviewer.
"The suggestion that the SPS director of health and social care was not consulting relevant specialists is totally inaccurate."
Megrahi served eight years of a life sentence in Scotland for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie in December 1988.Megrahi served eight years of a life sentence in Scotland for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie in December 1988.
His release last month has divided opinion at home and abroad.