Labour leader calls for apology over Lockerbie bomber's release
Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill should make a public apology if the Lockerbie bomber survives for a full year after his release from prison, Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray has said in an exclusive interview.
- By Stefan Morkis
- Published in the Courier : 04.08.10
- Published online : 04.08.10 @ 06.14am
Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was released from Greenock Prison and flown back to his native Libya on August 20 last year.
Megrahi was the only person ever convicted of the Lockerbie bombing, which claimed 270 lives in 1988. Jailed in 2001, the 58-year-old was released on compassionate grounds by Mr MacAskill, who said medical advice gave Megrahi less than three months to live — despite pleas from the US Government to keep the Libyan behind bars.
US senators are still investigating the decision to release Megrahi. Some US politicians have said they suspect BP, which has a £500 million oil deal with Libya, influenced negotiations — accusations that have been angrily denied by First Minister Alex Salmond.
In an exclusive interview with The Courier, Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said the SNP Scottish Government must provide the US with details of how it reached the decision to free Megrahi, who has always maintained his innocence.
"We have to make it clear to the US what the basis of the decision to release Megrahi was," said Mr Gray yesterday. "I don't believe that lobbying by BP had anything to do with his release. I think it was a decision made by Kenny MacAskill and Alex Salmond and a decision I think they both got wrong.
"If we reach the anniversary of his release and Megrahi is still alive, I think Kenny MacAskill should apologise and admit he made a mistake and should apologise to the families of the victims."
Asked if he believed Mr MacAskill should resign if Megrahi survives until the first anniversary of his release, Mr Gray said, "I think the time to resign was when he made the wrong decision. I think the most important thing now is to get a change at the next election in May.
"But it's not just about the decision to release Megrahi. Just before the parliamentary recess they passed legislation to release short-term criminals from jails. Obviously, these crimes were not the same as Megrahi's but these are all people released by Kenny MacAskill.
"We need a change of administration, to one that puts the victims before criminals."
Elections
However, Mr Gray said he believed jobs and the economy will be the main concerns of the voting public in the run-up to the Scottish Parliament elections next year.
"I think we will have to be honest because that will be the expectation of the public," he said. "They will want us to be honest about the public sector and cutting back on expenditure. They will want politicians to explain how they will lead us out of recession, growing the economy and creating jobs.
"I think the first priority of people in Dundee, and in other parts of the country, is not the budget and cuts, I think it is jobs and ideas about getting the country out of recession."
He accused the SNP administration of mismanaging the economy even before the recession began but said he would be prepared to work closely with the UK Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government, despite major ideological differences.
"David Cameron promised a better relationship and promised to visit the Scottish Parliament in his first week, which he did do," said Mr Gray, "but the first thing that happened after that was the coalition government decided to have a referenndum on the same day as the election. That is a sign of disrespect.
"But whatever the colours of the administration, you're going to have differences. There will be difficulties and disagreements but there has to be co-operation and as First Minister that is something I would pursue."
