Labour and the SNP damaged by Lockerbie disclosures

The Government has released papers and a report into the release and circumstances leading up to the release of the Lockerbie bomber.

Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Annabel Goldie MSP said:

"The Lockerbie Bomber was released 18 months ago based on the claim that he had 3 months to live. He is still alive but the SNP refuses to release any expert medical evidence of his condition in the summer of 2009. The decision to set him free was taken by the SNP Scottish government – and that was their decision to make. But we now know it was in tune with the underlying wishes and desires of the Labour Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and that his Government did "all it could" to facilitate Mr. Megrahi's release.

"The report issued today makes clear that at the end of 2007 it was HMG's understanding that a Prisoner Transfer Agreement might be acceptable to the SNP Scottish Government if progress could be made with regards to ongoing discussions relating to liabilities for breaches of human rights (the Somerville judgment) and devolution of firearms legislation. (See pages 38-41 of evidence)

"These latest claims that Alex Salmond and the SNP tried to do a deal with the then Labour Government will shock many people. Releasing the Lockerbie Bomber was a bad decision, made badly, but any suggestions that the SNP was willing to use him as a pawn for other deals is odious.

"Even to consider such a tawdry deal is an insult to the memory of those who died and to their families and friends. Both Labour and the SNP are damaged by these disclosures."

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