Latest Lockerbie Conspiracy: Megrahi is an SNP Agent!

Jeff

There really has been a lot of nonsense spouted over this issue and that includes quality newspapers and the BBC.

Your post here Alex is thankfully not one such instance. Excellent stuff, your pinpointing Cohen's contradictions is masterful even.

It's amazing the hullaballo that can be caused from simply allowing a dying man to spend some time with his loved ones before he leaves us in agony.

I don't even care if he's innocent or guilty at this stage of his life, he should be released. And a Justice Minister of any party would, I reckon, arrive at the same conclusion.

Peter Jackson

Och, ye're a clever chiel, even if ye do wear a remarkably strange hat

Kittler

Ignore Nick Cohen, anyone wishing a better informed and more sober contribution out of the BBC should go to the Blether with Brian Blog by their Scottish Political Editor Brian Taylor.

Alf Tupper

Dr Massie, are you, or have you at any time been, a member of the Woodcraft Folk?

Tom Gallagher

Alex Massie thinks it damned bad form to imagine that a politician as Machiavellian as Alex Salmond would exploit the al-Megrahi affair for the purposes of electoral capital. Instead of quietly discussing with the Americans beforehand ways of handling the awkward case of the possibly innocent Libyan convicted of planting the bomb which detonated over Lockerbie in 1988, Salmond and his justice minister Kenny MacAskill have instead gone for grandstanding and the Scottish press is full of angry Nats demanding that the Yanks keep their imperialist noses out of Scotland's affirs. Whatever happens now and however much the saga resembles a film that alas Peter Sellars is not alive to make, there is likely to be a big electoral dividend for the SNP. Alex is playing to the big anti-American slice of the electorate in urban Scotland which possibly hyperventilates on seeing Hillary and Ted Kennedy told to hop it by a Scottish leader.

Salmond is behaving not much differently from Charles J. Haughey, the friend of bankers and who made up his own rules in almost everything, someone who struck anti-imperialist gestures in order to beat a path to power in the Republic of Ireland thirty years ago. He supported Argentina in the Falkands conflict and a dozen years earlier stood trial for smuggling arms to the IRA; acquitted in controversial circumstances, he resumed his career in politic and got to the top.

Luckily, Irish democracy was too strong to be capsized. The media was alert and full of independent-minded journalists. The political opposition had bold and principled figures, Dr Noel Browne, Garret Fitzgerald and, above all, Conor Cruise O'Brien. The civil service was firmly neutral, (one of the biggest services de Valera had provided to the state). There was weariness among the population with political confrontation.

None of these factors currently applies in Scotland. The London-based media has its Nick Cohen, Martin Bright, David Aaronovitch and Joan Smith, left-wing journalists prepared to speak out on troubling developments in inter-etnic relations, namely how religion is used by unscrupulous elements on the reactionary Left as an instrument to acquire political power.

Until Paul Hutcheon wrote an article in the Glasgow-based sunday Herald a few weeks ago, Scotland's 'progressive' journalists refrained from speaking out against a manipulation of religious feeling for crude electoral purposes even though it is happening under our very eyes in Scotland. It remains to be seen what attention the Herald and the Scotsman (whose opinion pages are edited by an SNP candidate for Westminster, George Kerevan) will give to the news that what to all intents and purposes is a religious pressure group ver close to the SNP, has been asked by the civil service to return £125,000 of a £440,000 grant personally overseen by Alex Salmond itself; in the Irish republic it took decades not months before a ruling party could have such a proprietorial role ove funding meant for non-political purposes.

English readers (but maybe not Irish and Welsh ones) are getting tired of being exposed to the angry little world of Scottish politics. Many English voices in the blogospher and in press columns desire good riddance to Scotland. But I fear that if this happens and Salmnd becomes the Hastings Banda or Dom Mintoff of a liberated Caledonia, Scotland could well find itself occupying more space in the London media than at any time since 1745. Alex Salmond is conflictual by nature and he simply did not enter politics to be a builde and quietly administer things.

As clear-eyed journalists like Magnus Linklater have pointed out, the SNP's swaggering approach to th al-Megrahi affair has damaged Scotland's image in the world, by which he presumably meant the democratic West. But of course, the assertivesness is likely to play well with the sizeable Bravehert tendency in scotland and for a leader with ultimatly parochial priorities that's what mainly counts. No worries about jobs, investment or even straightforward access to American visas if these start to go down the Swannee.

Instead of reprising the role of Dr Pangloss and looking through the wrong end of the telescope fom the rolling hills of Selkirkshire, Alex Massie might reflect and worry about the absence of checks and balances in Scotland preventing Alex Salmond turning his personal and strategic choices nto postures and policies that damage the country. I feel responsible a a Scot who has written a goodly number of books about the ill-uses nationalism has been put to in other places not to stay silent when increasingly I see many of the danger signs in my own country.

The Welsh Jacobite

"It is not an act of clemency."

But that's precisely what it would be. An act of clemency implies that the person is guilty (but is being let off some of the penalty for some reason - in this case on compassionate grounds because of his terminal illness).

ndm

There is much wrong in a comment by Tom Gallagher that exemplifies the word "prolix." If he is the same Tom Gallagher who posted at Harry's Place (seemingly intent on being a haven for discredited wingnuttery) then he has done his cause no good with this comment.

One example of wrongness need suffice. Gallagher writes:

-- Alex Massie might reflect and worry about the absence of checks and balances in Scotland preventing Alex Salmond turning his personal and strategic choices nto postures and policies that damage the country.

"Checks and balances" is a fine phrase but I would have thought being a minority Government with only a single seat plurality over Labour would itself be a pretty significant check and balance.

Glen Campbell

Not content with blaming the SNP for the mess created by a tram line they voted against, a Homecoming event thought up by the previous administration, and a banking system they have no control over, Tom "patriot not nat" Gallagher seems to have a particular grudge against the "supine Scottish media". BBC Scotland, he suggests, are all wannabe SNP candidates (no mention of Ruth Davidson standing for the Tories) and The Scotsman newspaper won't publish his articles because George Kerevan is the assistant editor (except he's just given that particular job up). Clearly the only "psycho-drama" going on is the one inside Mr Gallagher's head.

arkletten

I think you're not quite up to speed on this Alex. Salmond has been making all sorts of strange connections lately, and picking needless fights with Westminster. He welcomed the Iranian ambassador last year, has been cosying up to Islamists (there's a funding row brewing there), has been toying with the idea of Islamic finance to build the new Forth Road Bridge, tried to impeach Blair. Then there's that nut-case Christine Grahame MSP (SNP) and her buddies in the Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign who sit on the Cross Party Group on Palestine. (Why do we need a cross-party group on Palestine?) It's all an angry immature cabal of visceral union-hating anti-imperialists.

It's all a shock to you because none of this ever gets into the press. The Scottish press are moribund (or in Salmond's pocket - worrying developments there) and the British press just doesn't care.

Fergus Pickering

It's very true that the British press doesn't care, and neither does anyone else south of the border. Remember, the Mayor of London is TWICE as important as Salmond because TWICE as many people are directly affected by what he does. And of course the great Boris is TWICE as intelligent.

Observer

Good Grief! I am printing out Tom Gallagher's ill considered rant here for future reference.

Richard T

The British (and I rather suspect the American) government may well be relieved that the case is slipping below the horizon since the release of documentary evidence required by the defence for both his and the Scottish Government's appeals has been refused. This would have inevitably raised the same sort of stushie in court as the refusal by the Foreign Office to release documents which may support allegations of torture. Thus latter is at the instigation of the US administration. It would of course be cynical to imply that behind the noise from washington are undertones of relief if he is released and the cases fall.

JohnMcDonald

Oh my God. The Spectator writes something less than damning about the SNP!

Richard Leighton

Alex, I think you dismiss Nick Cohen without thinking of the phrase: biting off more than you can chew. Salmond would, I think, use anything political, any event that could be used, to try and make Westminster look bad to help his own agenda. Many people attempt things they really shouldn't do, and, hopefully, they suffer suitable consequences. It is very insensitive to even give this the impression of it going towards farce, regarding the seriousness of what happened and the families affected. But this is what the SNP seem to have done. So it is not a contradiction by Nick Cohen. Politicians can do the stupidest things...

Tom Gallagher

Strange to say, Glenn Campbell forgot to point out to non-Scottish followers of Alex Massie's Blog that he is a leading BBC Scotland political journalist.

Evidently, he has been stung by criticism of the coterie culture that prevails in the tangled little world of the Scottish media. This is me speaking out of turn because in scotland (a land which has never had its own Private Eye), it is not always prudent to expose any of the incestuous goings on at the apex of power - and the BBC is one of the chief pillars of influence in the Northern Lilliput.

Alex Massie is a talented journalist, a natural for the BBC and it would not surprise me if a place was actually being prepared for him there so that he can safely dispense with this blog.

He is a Tory Radical (ideal for the approaching Cameron era) but with a tendresse for multi-culturalism, the idee-fixe of the Beeb - living in the emphatically monocultural Borders allows him to view multicultural Britain in all its bright plumage as something splended to behold.

if Glenn wanders out of his bunker on the Clyde quays, he will know that I am hardly alone in feeling that the Scottish BBC TV licence-payer gets a raw deal for its money especially in political coverage. The BBC (not alone) has allowed Alex Salmond to become a media impressario who manipulates the emotions of large numbers of Scots without being forced to account for blunders, cavalier use of public money, and a lot of grubby deals behind the scenes.

So I've drawn some blood and Glenn exposes my sobriquet in the Scotsman ('tartan not nat); any Deep Throat in the more inquisiitive sections of the Scottish media ought to watch their step when he's around).

He says that the apparent conflict of interest at the Scotsman when active SNPer George Kerevan managed the opinion pages is bunkum - because he resigned last week.

I have submitted the occasional article to the Scotysman and George even printed one but BBC Scotland's best-known face of political reporting claims that i am peeved, it hasn't printed any.

Just imagine Nick Robinson or Eddie Mair (who was relieved to escape from the parochial world of BBC scotland), writing a similar post.

The news values that prevail at BBC Scotland help to explain why Alex Salmond can make up the rules as he goes along, ultimately to the discredit of his own party but with the chief harm principally being felt in Scotland itself.

aly

There are clearly some journalists around whose holiday plans clashed with someone else and who are, as a consequence, floundering around the office looking for something to write.

McAskill's having to make the same decision any other justice secretary would have to make at this point. My personal preference would be that he keep Megrahi inside, but it's hardly world-changing stuff if he doesn't.

As for Labour's opinion, well, I'll cut them a deal. I'll care what they say when they give me the same rights vis a vis extradition to the US as US citizens have if we want them to come here. As they were spectacularly supine in giving up my rights, however, they can, as the saying goes, whistle for it.

Glen Campbell

"I feel responsible a a Scot who has written a goodly number of books about the ill-uses nationalism has been put to in other places not to stay silent when increasingly I see many of the danger signs in my own country"

One hand on the typewriter, another on the cash register. I bet your palms were positively itching when you put your cross in the SNP box 2 years ago.

"Strange to say, Glenn Campbell forgot to point out to non-Scottish followers of Alex Massie's Blog that he is a leading BBC Scotland political journalist. Evidently, he has been stung by criticism of the coterie culture that prevails in the tangled little world of the Scottish media."

Oh, man. You're even more paranoid than I thought. If you look at my previous post, Tom, you'll notice that I only have one n in my forename, whereas impartial *cough* BBC Scotland journalist Glenn Campbell spells his name with two. To be clear, I am not a journalist and have never worked for the BBC. I have also never sung Rhinestone Cowboy or Witchita Lineman, so that's another one ruled out for you.

Anyway, I've stopped laughing now and will try to borrow your book when it's out.

Tom Gallagher

Apologies Glen (with one N!) for confounding you with BBC journalist who it doesn't appear you take too kindly to.

But I was still glad of the opportunity to point out some home truths about the cosy and conformist world of political journalism in the Scottish print and broadcasting media.

I won't make much money, if any, from my book for reasons that will emerge a little later on, so I'm afraid your supposition that I'm motivated by filthy lucre doesn't have much force behind it.

Hugh

Brilliant thread. Hilarious. More Tom Gallagher please.

NMD, I think the word you're looking for is 'prolapse' rather than 'prolix', surely?

arkletten

It's all very suspicious. In May 2009 MacAskill turned down a request from Gaddafi for Megrahi's transfer under the prisoner transfer scheme, stating that it would not be fair to the relatives, who were wholly opposed...

...but in August 2009 he releases Megrahi unconditionally on compassionate grounds, despite the opposition of the majority of the relatives.

What's going on? Why the change of mind?

Megrahi's cancer was known to be incurable by May 2009. OK, his condition has worsened recently, but his grim medical diagnosis has not altered.

On BBC Newsnight Scotland last night MacAskill stated that he 'absolutely believed' in Megrahi's guilt.

But was releasing him anyway.

It just doesn't stack up.

Personally I have doubts about Megrahi's guilt, so in a way, I'm not unhappy that he's been released, but what about the truth? This is more important than Megrahi.

The SCCRC reported in June 2007 (having reviewed the case in detail since 2004) that it found substantial grounds for a miscarriage of justice and recommended the case be re-examined.

At which point Blair becomes active in brokering a prisoner transfer scheme with Gaddafi. Was the Crown (and Libya) afraid of what an appeal would show?

It was a legal condition of release on compassionate grounds that Megrahi drop his appeal, as release on those terms cannot be granted whilst legal processes are still current.

On BBC Radio Scotland yesterday the reporter from Greenock prison, Linda ?, stated that police plans had been drawn up for 'many months' of the route Megrahi would take from the prison to Glasgow airport.

Clearly it was planned to release him under the prisoner transfer scheme until this was scuppered by MacAskill in May.

ndm

Hugh writes:

-- NDM, I think the word you're looking for is 'prolapse' rather than 'prolix', surely?

Certainly NOT.

For lack of inclination to haul out the OED the following come from thefreedicationary.com:

prolix: Tediously prolonged; wordy

prolapse: To fall or slip out of place

Peter Gentleman

Some people might not be aware that eht BBC is so anti the SNP that they are reduced to telling outright lies on a daily basis.
The Scotsman is rabidly anti Scottish and has suffered a 50% fall in circulation in consequence.

T Gallagher really should try living in this universe. Stop taking the pills they're not working.

Under Scottish law Al-McGrahi HAD TO BE RELEASED! The end.

James42

Newsnight Scotland on Thursday was nothing more than a sleazie little tet a tet between Campbell and Brewer to make political capital out of MacAskill's situation. For Campbell to be lauded (only by the BBC mind you) as the man who broke the news last week is just laughable considering what a little man he is. BBC Scotland confused everyone with their misinformation, based only on speculation and no sound information. It's comic cuts all round with Brewer trying to be the next Paxman and Campbell the next Peston. All according to the Gospel of BBC Scotland of course.

Muzza

Good blog by Alex Massie but the comments by Tom Gallagher were absolutely outstanding. I can hardly type for laughing.

Mervin the Meerkat

Lol Tom Gallagher is so au fait with politics in Scotland that he thinks the BBCs Glenn Campbell likes the SNP!

Comedy gold.

Nick Robinson or Eddie Mair

Tom Gallagher wrote
"Just imagine Nick Robinson or Eddie Mair (who was relieved to escape from the parochial world of BBC scotland), writing a similar post."

well that wasn't difficult Tom. I can do Iain MacWhirter or Brian Taylor too if you like but not right now , my ribs are hurting too much.