On Megrahi

I’ve no doubt that coming to a decision about the best way forward on the Al-Megrahi case must have been a hugely difficult decision for Kenny MacAskill. Its one of those situations where there is no clearly “right” answer and required a weighing up of conflicting legal, political and humanitarian issues.

The SNP, however, has achieved the worst of all outcomes by allowing its political ideology to play a key role in the process.

My personal view is that, on balance, it was right – in humanitarian terms - to move Megrahi into a situation where he could best spend what is left of his life closer to his family. This, however, could have been achieved by transferring Megrahi back to a prison in Libya. The UK government had spent considerable time working out the terms of just such a process. Megrahi would have continued to serve out his sentence, but this solution would have strengthened the UK’s relationship and influence with Libya and would also have earned the UK credit with many Arab states and organisations. Over time, such an outcome would have many benefits for us all, in both economic and security terms.

Crucially, since he was still serving a jail sentence, Megrahi could continue to pursue his appeal.
But agreeing to work with the UK government, in the best interest of us all, did not fit with the SNP’s political strategy, which requires conflict with London to be engineered at every opportunity, so as to build the case for independence. Salmond effectively boxed himself and MacAskill into a corner last year, when he was publicly critical of the Prisoner Transfer Agreement and how it had been negotiated.

By releasing Megrahi on compassionate grounds, MacAskill and the SNP Government have achieved the worst of all outcomes. Megrahi is welcomed home as a hero, damaging UK and US relationships with an important Arab power. Scotland’s status in the world has been diminished. And we will never get to hear the new evidence which might have shed some light on the real story behind the Lockerbie disaster.

We should remember that the next time the SNP tell us they have Scotland’s best interests at heart.