OPPOSITION MSPS ABANDON PRINCIPLES FOR PARTY POLITICS

OPPOSITION MSPS ABANDON PRINCIPLES FOR PARTY POLITICS

PARTIES REFUSE TO ALLOW FREE VOTE

Liberal Democrat MSPs John Farquhar Munro and Hugh O’Donnell have been challenged tonight on their failure to stand by their public statements backing the decision to release the Lockerbie bomber on compassionate grounds.

The two Liberal Democrat MSPs had both made their support for the decision clear in the media.

Labour’s Malcolm Chisholm supported the Government despite his party’s political opposition and Conservative MSP Ted Brocklebank refused to support his party or to vote against the Government.

A call from the SNP for the vote on a judicial issue to be “not whipped” was rejected by other parties.

John Farquhar Munro’s public comments directly contradict both his party’s amendment regarding where Mr MacAskill made the announcement of his decision and his final vote.

SNP MSP and Deputy Whip David Thompson said:

“For any MSP to abandon their principles on an issue such as this is a disgrace.

“This was not a party political decision but one of law and principle. Kenny MacAskill made that decision and stands by it - Lib Dem MSPs could not even stand by their own press comments.

“While the SNP group had no whip for tonight’s vote other parties forced their members to tow the line.

"Last week Menzies Campbell accused Labour of facing two ways on Lockerbie – it seems the Liberal Democrats are just as bad.

“Set alongside the brave and principled decision of Kenny MacAskill and the honourable position of other members in the chamber the about turns of Lib Dem MSPs end what has been a poor two weeks for the opposition”