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Friday 21 August 2009

Should the Scottish Parliament be recalled?

Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi has been released as I have previously blogged and now the presiding officer, Alex Fergusson at the Scottish Parliament feels it is acceptable to recall Parliament.

Tavish Scott MSP was calling for the Parliament to be recalled last week to discuss the upcoming decision. No, his request was turned down, but not now the release has taken place we read on the BBC News website - "Holyrood presiding officer Alex Fergusson announced the move to bring back MSPs from their summer break, days after turning down an earlier request from the Liberal Democrats."

Now I do not see the point, it's a bit like shutting the door, long after the horse bolted.

But what is there to actually debate? Apparently there will be a statement from Kenny MacAskill followed by questions from MSPs, what an absolute wate of time. I wonder what the cost is to recall Parliament for one day, just a week before the Parliament was due to reconvene following the summer recess anyway?

Kenny MacAskill, surely one of the most hated men in politics today is facing criticism from Barack Obama downwards for his decision to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, dying from cancer, faced a sentence "imposed by a higher power". I'm not a religious type so find this slightly over the top. Don't get me wrong, cancer is a very nasty disease but it's nothing to do with a higher power.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

The Higher Power comment, delivered in that weird, undulating tone normally reserved for sermons actually made me gag when I heard it.

Not nearly as much, though, as switching on the telly and seeing the celebrations in Tripoli.

In terms of what Parliament can do, probably not a lot. As you know I feel that MacAskill made the right decision, but completely cocked up the process, potentially damaging Scotland's international standing more than necessary. The Parliament should have the right to voice its opinion on that.

I don't think really that Parliament should have discussed the release in advance - you can't have decisions like that being made with any sort of political motives.

Love and Garbage has done another excellent article showing why Kenny MacAskill should not have gone to visit Megrahi in jail.

jasonbradyut said...

What, a…are we now giving out FREE Lunches? Since when??? Hey, I’m sorry for his cancer, but one never knows truly how much longer they can live…his last death wish may even be to do another “killing of Americans” deed. These people don’t care, but only to KILL America. They hate us…

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