GRAY ACCUSED OF OPPORTUNISM ON COMPASSIONATE RELEASE.
Labour’s leader in the Scottish Parliament Iain Gray has been accused of opportunism over his position on the compassionate release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi. Last Tuesday, Mr Gray said that he could not give an opinion on the application for compassionate release, as he had not seen Mr al-Megrahi’s medical reports. However, after the announcement by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, which confirmed the medical basis for compassionate release with the published evidence showing a prognosis of a three-month life expectancy, the Scottish Labour leader said that he opposed the release. SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP said: “Iain Gray has been totally opportunistic on the compassionate release of Mr al-Megrahi, and it is difficult to see his shifting position as anything other than shameless. “Last Tuesday, Iain Gray refused to give his opinion on compassionate release, which he said must be based on the medical reports. The Justice Secretary’s decision was indeed based on the medical evidence – which he published, showing a life expectancy for Mr Al Megrahi of some three months. Yet quite shamefully, at that point – and only at that point – did Iain Gray oppose compassionate release. “Kenny MacAskill made his decision on the basis of the medical evidence presented to him which clearly supported the application for compassionate release – and on the recommendations of the Parole Board and Prison Governor. “Scotland’s Justice Secretary made the right decision, and above all he made it for the right reasons. What a contrast with the silence of Gordon Brown at Westminster – and the opportunism of Iain Gray at Holyrood.”
More info,
1. Speaking on the BBC on 17 August, Mr Gray said “as far as the application for compassionate release is concerned, I’m not in a position to make a judgement on that because it depends very much on his medical condition and the medical reports which Mr. MacAskill will have received.”
2. Two days later, following the Justice Secretary’s announcement, Mr Gray said: "If I was First Minister, Megrahi would not be going back to Libya. The decision to release him is wrong.”
Labour’s leader in the Scottish Parliament Iain Gray has been accused of opportunism over his position on the compassionate release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi. Last Tuesday, Mr Gray said that he could not give an opinion on the application for compassionate release, as he had not seen Mr al-Megrahi’s medical reports. However, after the announcement by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, which confirmed the medical basis for compassionate release with the published evidence showing a prognosis of a three-month life expectancy, the Scottish Labour leader said that he opposed the release. SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP said: “Iain Gray has been totally opportunistic on the compassionate release of Mr al-Megrahi, and it is difficult to see his shifting position as anything other than shameless. “Last Tuesday, Iain Gray refused to give his opinion on compassionate release, which he said must be based on the medical reports. The Justice Secretary’s decision was indeed based on the medical evidence – which he published, showing a life expectancy for Mr Al Megrahi of some three months. Yet quite shamefully, at that point – and only at that point – did Iain Gray oppose compassionate release. “Kenny MacAskill made his decision on the basis of the medical evidence presented to him which clearly supported the application for compassionate release – and on the recommendations of the Parole Board and Prison Governor. “Scotland’s Justice Secretary made the right decision, and above all he made it for the right reasons. What a contrast with the silence of Gordon Brown at Westminster – and the opportunism of Iain Gray at Holyrood.”
More info,
1. Speaking on the BBC on 17 August, Mr Gray said “as far as the application for compassionate release is concerned, I’m not in a position to make a judgement on that because it depends very much on his medical condition and the medical reports which Mr. MacAskill will have received.”
2. Two days later, following the Justice Secretary’s announcement, Mr Gray said: "If I was First Minister, Megrahi would not be going back to Libya. The decision to release him is wrong.”
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