Tories demand full details of Salmond trip to the Gulf

Published on Tuesday 25 October 2011 00:11

A ROW has broken out over a trip by Alex Salmond to the Gulf states next week.

The First Minister is travelling to Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai to strengthen Scotland’s economic and energy links with the region. But it emerged two years ago that the fate of the Lockerbie bomber was raised during talks between Salmond and the Qatari government, which later called for his release.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was subsequently freed on compassionate grounds, but the Tories are now calling for full details of the forthcoming meetings to be made public.

Tory justice spokesman John Lamont said: “It is important that thorough notes and minutes of meetings held on the trip are taken and published.

“This way we can be assured as to the extent Mr Salmond is willing to go to cajole Arab financial support.”

But justice secretary Kenny MacAskill’s spokesman accused the Tories of “astonishing hypocrisy”.

He said: “The only people who suggested anything improper to the Scottish Government were the Tory peer Lord Trefgarne – who wanted commercial interests to play a part in a decision in favour of Megrahi’s release – and the Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski, who wrote to the justice secretary saying that Megrahi should be used as a foreign policy ‘bargaining chip’.”

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Ian Aberdon

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 07:33 PM

Of course, a row "has broken out" because the unionists - & the Scotsman - WANT a row to "break out". Anything to keep us tied to the purse strings of Westminster & the boys at the Bullingdon Club or whatever the posh Tory boys call it.

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Broon Bairn

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 10:23 AM

Of course, the Tories would love to see Scotland, and all its representatives, as small, wee isolated folk, with no outside ties to the rest of the world. They'd rather keep us parochial and dependent on the Yoo Kay for links to the outside world.

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9

ELDee

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 10:10 AM

He will be off to try and get direct flight connections with Edinburgh with Etihad, Qater and Emirates. It is also an opportunity to offer University places in Scotland to students from the area. Equally he could be looking for these countries to take excess teachers. I doubt it will be junket because all the bars will be shut due to it being hajj starting next week. I wonder why he missed out Bahrain & Kuwait.

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8

Never A Fake

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 09:55 AM

I think the Tories are just jealous as they know they will never have one of theirs be First Minister. I watched their four candidates on Newnicht last night, no-hopers every one.

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7

Heinz Doofensmirtz

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 09:55 AM

Fortunately none of the snp bandwagon have the knowledge to discuss anything of importance and so cannot do a Fox. Hyslop got left at the door of the COBRA meeting and rightly so.

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6

SlyFifer

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 07:51 AM

The Great One can go anywhere he likes, talk to anyone he likes and it's nobodies business but his. Butt out English numpties you are in no moral position to criticise anything the properly elected First Minister of Scotland does. While you are at it, drop the Megraghi stuff. If he had anything at all to do with Lockerbie which I seriously doubt, save your comments and criticisms for those who did !.

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Christian Wright

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 03:16 AM

All part of a coordinated smear campaign against the First Minister organized and executed by the sleaziest bunch of invertebrates in government.

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Beachdair

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 01:31 AM

#2 thomas79 - Wonderful idea, "send them a postcard". You made my day.

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Proud Doonhamer

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 12:58 AM

One thing for sure, Salmond will know exactly who he is meeting with and not be surprised to be sunning on the same beach as Filthy Fox or other members of the ConDem mafia. My personal apologies for the use of the word "mafia" as it is unfair to compare organized crime to the Tories. After all organized crime is at least truthful about its lack of respect for the law.

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thomas79

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 12:43 AM

Ignore the Tories. Perhaps they should have insisted that Mr Fox the former defence secretary should have taken thorough notes and minutes of meetings. Dont give then any notes or minutes. Send them a postcard instead.

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Electric Hermit

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 12:33 AM

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