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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'No U-turn' on Libya compensation | 'No U-turn' on Libya compensation |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Downing Street has denied any U-turn in its support for IRA victims' families seeking compensation from Libya. | Downing Street has denied any U-turn in its support for IRA victims' families seeking compensation from Libya. |
| Libya, which supplied the IRA with explosives, has agreed out-of-court deals with three US victims. | Libya, which supplied the IRA with explosives, has agreed out-of-court deals with three US victims. |
| But last year Gordon Brown wrote to the UK victims' lawyer saying it would not be "appropriate" for the government to push Libya to compensate them. | But last year Gordon Brown wrote to the UK victims' lawyer saying it would not be "appropriate" for the government to push Libya to compensate them. |
| On Sunday he said a government unit was being set up to help them. The Tories called that a "partial U-turn". | On Sunday he said a government unit was being set up to help them. The Tories called that a "partial U-turn". |
| In the latest row to follow the release of the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, by the Scottish government, the Sunday Times published ministers' letters to campaigners for IRA victims, which were sent last November. | In the latest row to follow the release of the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, by the Scottish government, the Sunday Times published ministers' letters to campaigners for IRA victims, which were sent last November. |
| 'Not negotiate' | 'Not negotiate' |
| In them Mr Brown wrote that the government did not "consider it appropriate to enter into a bilateral discussion with Libya on this matter". | In them Mr Brown wrote that the government did not "consider it appropriate to enter into a bilateral discussion with Libya on this matter". |
| But on Sunday he said he was setting up a dedicated Foreign Office team to assist the IRA families' victims. | But on Sunday he said he was setting up a dedicated Foreign Office team to assist the IRA families' victims. |
| The prime minister's spokesman said that was "entirely consistent with the approach taken so far" and that Foreign Office officials in Libya would "facilitate not negotiate". | The prime minister's spokesman said that was "entirely consistent with the approach taken so far" and that Foreign Office officials in Libya would "facilitate not negotiate". |
| The entire fabric of the extraordinarily difficult relationship between Libya and the UK is becoming unravelled Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's blog in full Send us your comments | The entire fabric of the extraordinarily difficult relationship between Libya and the UK is becoming unravelled Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's blog in full Send us your comments |
| He said the plan had been "relatively recent" but would not confirm whether it had been drawn up before the weekend's revelations. | He said the plan had been "relatively recent" but would not confirm whether it had been drawn up before the weekend's revelations. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Schools Secretary Ed Balls said: "It's not a U-turn because, as I understand it, what Gordon Brown said last night is the same as he said to families [in the past]." | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Schools Secretary Ed Balls said: "It's not a U-turn because, as I understand it, what Gordon Brown said last night is the same as he said to families [in the past]." |
| He added that it had not been possible to pursue a "government-led case for compensation" as Britain had already agreed with Libya to "recognise what had happened in the past, put it behind us and move on". | He added that it had not been possible to pursue a "government-led case for compensation" as Britain had already agreed with Libya to "recognise what had happened in the past, put it behind us and move on". |
| 'Partial U-turn' | 'Partial U-turn' |
| There had been an attempt to get a government agreement in 2004 for compensation for both the IRA and Lockerbie victims, he said. | There had been an attempt to get a government agreement in 2004 for compensation for both the IRA and Lockerbie victims, he said. |
| "That couldn't be negotiated and the judgement the government made and still makes, is that to attempt to do so now, would both not succeed and sour and damage a relationship which is not about economics or oil but is actually about working together to make sure British people are safe from international terrorism." | "That couldn't be negotiated and the judgement the government made and still makes, is that to attempt to do so now, would both not succeed and sour and damage a relationship which is not about economics or oil but is actually about working together to make sure British people are safe from international terrorism." |
| Alan McBride's wife and father-in-law were killed in the Shankill bombing in 1993 | Alan McBride's wife and father-in-law were killed in the Shankill bombing in 1993 |
| But shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "It is a very partial U-turn. It is not exactly clear what is going to happen, what support is going to be provided for the families looking for compensation of terrorism in Northern Ireland. | But shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "It is a very partial U-turn. It is not exactly clear what is going to happen, what support is going to be provided for the families looking for compensation of terrorism in Northern Ireland. |
| "I think it is time he [Gordon Brown] changed his position that it's not appropriate for the British government to raise this directly with the Libyan government." | "I think it is time he [Gordon Brown] changed his position that it's not appropriate for the British government to raise this directly with the Libyan government." |
| He added it would be "very strange" for the British government to help the families involved but for ministers, in discussions with their Libyan counterparts, not to mention it. | He added it would be "very strange" for the British government to help the families involved but for ministers, in discussions with their Libyan counterparts, not to mention it. |
| Meanwhile Colonel Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi said any claims for compensation based on Libya's supply of explosives to the IRA would be a matter for the courts. | Meanwhile Colonel Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi said any claims for compensation based on Libya's supply of explosives to the IRA would be a matter for the courts. |
| He told Sky News: "They have their lawyers. We have our lawyers." | He told Sky News: "They have their lawyers. We have our lawyers." |
| Speaking about the looming British attempts to claim compensation, the Libyan leader's son said: "Anyone can knock on our door. You go to the court." | Speaking about the looming British attempts to claim compensation, the Libyan leader's son said: "Anyone can knock on our door. You go to the court." |
| Sinn Fein | |
| And when asked if his answer to the compensation demand would be "no" in the first instance, he replied: "Of course." | And when asked if his answer to the compensation demand would be "no" in the first instance, he replied: "Of course." |
| But the response by Mr Gaddafi - seen by many as the most likely successor to his father's leadership - was welcomed by campaigners as a sign of Libyan "engagement". | But the response by Mr Gaddafi - seen by many as the most likely successor to his father's leadership - was welcomed by campaigners as a sign of Libyan "engagement". |
| Lawyer Jason McCue, who represents some of the victims, said: "It means they have decided to engage with us whereas previously there was no engagement. | Lawyer Jason McCue, who represents some of the victims, said: "It means they have decided to engage with us whereas previously there was no engagement. |
| "We always expected this to go to the courts and now it means there will be a process to getting compensation." | "We always expected this to go to the courts and now it means there will be a process to getting compensation." |
| Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said he had spoken to Downing Street about the Libyan compensation issue on Monday morning. | Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said he had spoken to Downing Street about the Libyan compensation issue on Monday morning. |
| He said that while he supported compensation for all victims there should be no "hierarchy". | |
| "Some victims were killed directly by British agents, others by their surrogates. British state forces have also killed or injured many citizens," he added. | "Some victims were killed directly by British agents, others by their surrogates. British state forces have also killed or injured many citizens," he added. |
| "Republicans are not surprised by the hypocritical stance of successive British governments on this issue." | "Republicans are not surprised by the hypocritical stance of successive British governments on this issue." |