Address was 'full of lies' claims Whitehall

Published on Thursday 20 August 2009 22:01

SOURCES in the UK government have accused SNP justice secretary Kenny MacAskill of lying in his statement on the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi to stir a new row with Westminster.

Mr MacAskill attacked the Westminster government for setting up a prisoner transfer agreement (PTA) with Libya and failing to exclude Megrahi.

He added that he only controversially visited Megrahi in person because of advice from UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

And he attacked the UK government for allegedly refusing to take up the opportunity to give evidence to him while he deliberated over the PTA application.

Officially, Westminster said the issue was a matter for the Scottish Government. But a senior Whitehall source described the address as "mawkish" and claimed it was "full of lies".

"Every single question that was asked was answered by the UK government," he said.

"MacAskill was trying to throw up a smokescreen because the real reason why he couldn't consider a prisoner transfer agreement is because the Crown Office has an appeal against the leniency of the sentence."

He added that Mr MacAskill could have just taken written evidence from Megrahi rather than visited him in person.

The accusation was rejected by a spokesman for Mr MacAskill, who said that his criticisms of the UK government were "fair".

There was also criticism from Conservative Party leader David Cameron said: "I think this is wrong and it's the product of some completely nonsensical thinking, in my view."

The decision also caused dispute within Holyrood, with Mr MacAskill receiving support from First Minister Alex Salmond, but being condemned by opposition parties. Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said that, had he been First Minister, Megrahi would still be in jail.

Mr Gray said: "The process leading up to this decision has been a shambles, characterised by leaks, briefings and counter-briefings.

"Kenny MacAskill has to answer a series of questions before parliament to explain what went wrong and why such international criticism has been foisted on Scotland."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Mr MacAskill is entirely open and accountable to parliament. Now he has made his statement he will be pleased to answer any and all questions on this important matter."

Meanwhile, the issue is set to be debated in an emergency session of the Scottish Parliament on Monday.