MILIBAND HUMILIATES IAIN GRAY - MACASKILL ACTED "IN THE RIGHT WAY"

IAIN GRAY'S CASE UNDERCUT BY UK GOVERNMENT “RESPECT” FOR SCOTTISH PROCESS

Labour’s leader in the Scottish Parliament has been undercut by UK Ministers today as David Miliband confirmed that neither he nor the Prime Minister wanted Mr Megrahi to die in jail – the supposed position of Iain Gray – and as Mr Miliband gave his backing to the Scottish Government’s handling of the issue.

Speaking on Radio 4 Today programme this morning Foreign Secretary David Miliband said:

“We did not want him to die in prison. No, we weren't seeking his death in prison. We have been absolutely clear."

On the Scottish Government’s handling of the decision over Mr Megrahi he said:

“The decision to make was for the Scottish Government and they have done so in a way which we respect but which is absolutely according to the constitution of this country"

The Foreign Secretary continued:

“The account that has been discussed over the last two weeks is first of all was the Scottish administration doing its constitutional duty in the right way - point one yes.”

SNP MSP Michael Matheson said:

“This is a further humiliation for Iain Gray and Richard Baker.

“It is not just the evidence that undercuts Labour’s arguments it is their own Foreign Secretary.

“The UK Government is clear that they respect what the Scottish Government has done and the way in which it was done.

“Mr Miliband confirmed this morning that neither he nor Gordon Brown had wanted Mr Megrahi to die in a Scottish jail and he has confirmed that in his view the Scottish Government acted “in the right way”.

“Labour have spent two weeks concocting arguments only for David Miliband and Gordon Brown to pull the rug from under them.

"Iain Gray and Richard Baker’s complaints are exposed as nothing more than empty political posturing."