Ian Brady wants move to Scots jail

MOORS murderer Ian Brady has renewed his efforts to be transferred to Scotland.

Brady – who, along with his accomplice Myra Hindley, sexually assaulted and murdered five children in the mid-1960s – hopes that he will be able to starve himself to death if he is transferred to Scotland because of differences in the legal system.

His request has been seen by some as yet more evidence that criminals perceive Scotland under the SNP as being "a soft touch" since the release of the Lockerbie bomber last year.

Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker said: "The reason Brady is keen to come to Scotland stems from Kenny MacAskill's ill-judged decision to release the Lockerbie bomber. The soft touch SNP is making a mockery of Scotland's justice system."

Bill Aitken, the Conservative justice spokesman and Holyrood justice committee convener, added: "In the aftermath of the release of the Lockerbie bomber it is sad that one of the consequences of that flawed decision is that one of the worst criminals in Britain is making this sort of transfer application."

However, a spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: "This looks like another exercise in publicity.

"No approach has been made. In any event, Scottish ministers would have to agree to a transfer from hospital in England to hospital in Scotland, and this is not something we would support in any circumstances."