I arranged my afternoon in order to watch Kenny MacAskill's statement on the Megrahi decision and the subsequent MSP's questions.
His statement was a repeat of his statement last Thursday but he was much more relaxed.
The questions varied in quality with Ian Gray later insisting, on Sky News, that none of his questions was answered. Perhaps he wasn't listening because in my opinion they were answered fully.
Annabel Goldie's idea that Mr Megrahi could have been transferred to his temporary home in Newton Mearns, a hospice or a hospital was quite ridiculous. Even to the most disinterested person the policing of any of these situations would be a nightmare. I'm sure Ms Goldie doesn't live in Newton Mearns or has ever been in a hospital when a criminal is also a patient. The freedom of patients is seriously curtailed and inconvenience is caused to staff, visitors and patients. With a man of Mr Megrahi's criminal status it would be quite impossible to ensure security and allow normal business to proceed. The same would apply to a hospice situation.
The least said about Tavish Scott and Nicol Stephen's contributions the better. Very disappointing performances from both whose desperate attempts to score political points drifted into the ether. The subject matter is far too important for this type of behaviour.
The MSP who deserves a mention is Malcolm Chisholm, a man not unused to sticking his head above the party line and voicing his own opinion - dignified, brief and to the point. I see others agree with me.
As a result of this afternoon it would seem the unionist parties intend to push for a full debate in the Parliament next Wednesday and a vote thereafter. Interesting times indeed.
Posts
30 comments:
Subrosa
Malcolm Chisholm has shown he has more integrity and common decency than the rest of the Labour MSPs put together.
He would be a very welcome addition to the SNP, but unfortunately I cannot see that happening. He would however make a very good independent MSP. He must look at Margo and think how much better he could do at Holyrood if he was not part of the Labour lightweights.
John Farquhar Munro The Lib Dem MSP has also supported MacAskill.
Are there any other opposition MSPs with a backbone?
P.S. Were was wee Jack or the lardy lord? Do you think Labour told them to stay away?
I've always thought Malcolm Chisholm should me an independent Dubbie. He is a committed politician not really a 'party' one.
Wasn't aware JF Munro supported MacAskill. I wonder if these who 'oppose' the decision are doing it for political purposes? Of course they are!
Subrosa
The answer John Farquhar Munro gave on a Gaelic radio station today is on the SNP website under support for right decision.
Dear Subrosa
If anyone expected Iain Gray to understand what is the right thing to do then the NHS run a very good medical service.
To deal with people having delusions.
Kenny MacAskill has answered his critics and did so properly.
If they can't understand or don't want to understand the answers then best to leave them to get on with it.
What annoys the Labour Party is that they can't take any credit for the release of Megrahi.
The 'deal in the desert' has blown right up in their face.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
It has indeed George. Somehow I think Tony Blair knew it would don't you.
I actually managed to view the broadcast live.
Gray was just that, completely out of his depth, dull and dreich, reading his furnished party lines.
AnnaB, for once seemed to have lost the plot and talked tosh about keeping Megrahi in Scotland; very weird performance. Sad but maybe she has been deserted by Cameron and has just to say something to be in the gang
Tavish seems to live on another planet. I know Shetland is offshore to the Scottish mainland but does he really need to be so offshore too? Nicol Stephens was simply a greeting wean; really bad show to compound Tavish's non performance.
The devil will be loosed later when the Broon and Straw connection together with the Dark One's machinations come into the public domain.
Altogether K MacAskill put a simple, straightforward and, I think, very honest rationale and gave those against him, who are only glued together by their absurd anti-snp doctrine rather than any reasoned argument, no real space to manoeuvre.
SNP and K Mack 1
Unionist weans Nul points
The one thing this 'Event' proves is Nationalist would support mass murderers if their leaders told them to
"...Can I regret the politicisation of what is a quasi-judicial decision, and for my part commend the justice secretary for a courageous decision, which is entirely consistent with both the principles of Scots law and Christian morality, as evidenced by the widespread support of churches across Scotland...."
Malcolm Chisholm
Labour MSP
Unionism has brought shame on Scotland today and painted very clearly the dark vision they have of Scotland, a patsy nation, subject to interference and whimsical politicising of judicial decisions.
Quite frankly it stinks.
Mr Mxyzptik, did you have a nice time on the scotsman yesterday masquerading as a n american.
Your sir are a coward, now fuck offf
(apologies subrosa)
Eh Niko? Who was it that shook hands with Qaddafi and son?
Glad you managed to see it Billy. Was a sound performance from MacAskill.
Oh dearie me Niko bad night? Didn't expect such a professional performance from Mr MacAskill? Didn't expect such an excellent explanation for his decision?
Well said Wardog, well said indeed.
No need to apologise Wardog, sometimes certain words are most appropriate.
Blair, Brown, Playboy Andrew and the list goes on Conan.
I hope not too many people from outside the UK kept watching after Mr MacAskill's statement in the hope of hearing a coherent, intelligent and relevant questioning of the Justice Minister. What occurred resembled a failed pilot episode of What not to Ask. The majority of opposition MSPs, who appeared to be suffering from some weird form of attention span deficit, did not appear to register that the statement already answered their redundant questions. Nicol Stephen hit the Richter Scale in daft question ratings while Mr Gray was the epitome of empty barrelism. Mr MacAskill was struggling to tolerate the abysmal quality of questioning as he had to repeat the same answer to the same questions.
Malcolm Chisholm's contribution was a blessed relief in the unionist void of integrity in Holyrood. Even the Presiding Officer was getting uncomfortable with the bumbling questioners.
If this is the finely honed edge of opposition politics and they are still demanding "more answers" from Mr MacAskill - have they considered that he may have expected better questions?
Niko,
I've already addressed your comments on AMW's blog.
The SNP walked right into Gordon Brown's trap by releasing this bloke.
They perceived their "compassionate" stance would be seen as evidence of their "independence". They would have been better steering clear of this issue and biding their time.
If independence is to become a reality it has to be based ultimately on broad support from an electorate where large sections aren't alienated, not based on divisive posturing.
It was poor wasn't it Clarinda. It was even worse listening to the Sky interviews afterwards.
I certainly disagree with you Jim and I see no divisive posturing from the government.
I see a government which had to make a decision though. In what way could they have steered clear of the issue?
Ah Iain Gray, I remember when he was Justice Secretary a joke then and a joke now.
And the bluster and pretend anger continues because we all know that it would be quite the opposite of his statement "If I was first minister it would never have happended" because Gordon would have told him to do so like the obedient lackey he is.
What I am angry must of all about is how the political football of Lockerbie is aimed at undermining the people of Scotland. What with Glasgow NE coming up will this be the Labour platform? More Fear?
Having had known people involved in this tragedy (the clean-up) who effectively when they deteriate and your family deteriates in front of your eyes they become victims as well.
Do I think he is guilty? I do not know because all you know is what you have read but there is always two sides to the story.
But somebody who was close to me who stood on that field in the cold of freezing December morning with the putrid smell of jetfuel in the air always maintains.
That no one acted alone on this tragedy.
I would agree with the someone close to you Beautiful Place. The whole issue stinks from start to finish and like you, I have no idea if Megrahi was part of the atrocity or a stool pigeon.
Will we ever know? I doubt it and that's the double tragedy for the families.
Didn't see it all - only Kenny's statement on Moridura's blog - so can't comment on the purulent prattle of the provincial poseurs of UK parties, posturing in parliament today.
Well done Kenny son.
He stuck to his guns scunnert. Maybe that's not an appropriate term under the circumstances.
McAskill stuck resolutely to his 'due process' argument - simple and hard to refute. Indeed the opposition questioners were deplorable, with the only searching questions coming from the SNP's own benches. It looks as if the unionists have given up on the idea of a confidence vote, hence their rather despondent display. Having made a lot of noise in the press they now have no way to follow it up.
I watched BBC news immediately afterwards - can't remember who the commentator was, but when asked how McAskill had performed he said he 'struggled'. Piffle - he was unchallenged to the point of looking bored. It's about time the BEEB put up a strapline to its 'news' programmes - any resemblance to real events or actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental
I hope this isn't over - there are considerable doubts as to the safety of Megrahi's original conviction, and the Lockerbie relatives deserve answers unspun by the realpolitik of Westminster, Washington and faceless oil company boardrooms.
Listening to various news programmes - I wondered whether I had watched the same full Holyrood statement and question answer session. I admit I was sceptical about Al-Megrahi's release when first raised some time ago - but thinking about the facts (they may be restricted I know) I cannot see what other reasonable option was left to Mr MacAskill. I remain even more resolute in that opinion having heard the appalling attempt to question the rationale and the blatant 'redacted' bias from many in the media.
As this whole tragic affair was seemingly born out of international military, political and financial intrigue, it would appear unlikely that the loss of so many and the on-going despair of families and others will be resolved.
Strange how readily the 'great and the good' are to meet face to face with the Libyan heads of state to inveigle - should that be slither -their way into oil contracts when it seems like only yesterday Libya was the wicked rogue state.
Mr MacAskill was robust and measured yesterday - the 'opposition' (apart from M Chisholm) were as expected - abysmal.... and they want a "debate" next week - "debate"? - the opposition would know a debate if it leapt out of their bowl of saps and bit them on their nose.
PS
Could someone please make sure that Nicol Stephens is still lying down in a darkened room after his cod impression yesterday of a twit.
Good morning Vronsky, you put it far more succinctly than I did.
Indeed further investigations need to be carried out.
It was Alan Cochrane who gave the evaluation I think Vronksy and then of course we had the 'three stooges' later on in the programme. I seldom watch BBC these days as your strapline is so accurate.
Good morning Clarinda, I agree with you Nicol Stephen was a twit. The libdems are good at the dramatic though you must admit and he needed his 2 minutes of fame.
It's not over at all I don't think. Why the sudden retraction of a vote of confidence? For the past few days the MSM was full of labour and the libdems going for a VoC but now it's been kicked into the long grass.
Much more to come on this and I hope the SNP continue to act with decorum and professionalism.
Subrosa, I presume that if the vote of no confidence resulted in Alex Salmond's standing down and the likelihood of agreeing a new First Minister was a dead-duck - a consequent Scottish election would kill off Labour etc. at a stroke and the SNP may be returned with a majority. Isn't democracy wonderful?
I'm sure you presume correctly Clarinda. Democracy wonderful? What's left of it in this country may be, but every day a little is lost.
Post a Comment