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Lockerbie release could topple SNP government

Laila

Laila

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Scotland’s government faces a fight for its survival as the furore over its decision to free the Lockerbie bomber escalated last night.

Opposition parties north of the Border are preparing to hold a confidence vote over the decision by Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Justice Secretary, to free Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi. Alex Salmond, the First Minister, has confirmed that he would resign if the Holyrood vote went against him.

The development comes after a weekend of fierce criticism from the United States of the decision on the ground of compassion to return al-Megrahi to Libya, where he was fêted as a hero on his return.

Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Pentagon’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he was appalled by the freeing of al-Megrahi, echoing the earlier attack by Robert Mueller, the FBI Director, who accused Scotland of “making a mockery of the rule of law” and giving “comfort to terrorists around the world”. Threats by Americans to boycott Scottish goods and services on the back of the al-Megrahi decision are being taken seriously by the British Government.
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Lockerbie release could topple SNP government - Times Online

Ouch.
US doesn't seem to happy with Scotland right now.

Wheres our resident Scot Anima?
Is it as bad as i am reading it to be
How likely is the no confidence vote to go through?
 
Hey hey. Scotland made this decision. Not our Supreme Court

www.boycottscotland

And there was also alot of scathing attacks by the FBI Director on the release to Scotland.
 
The SNP is a minority government so their situation is always vulnerable, but a no confidence vote that would trigger an election would be a disaster for Labour given their current state, and could result in a nationalist majority.

The SNP government has followed correct protocol and stands to gain little from any perspective oil deals which would go to London based companies, so those claims are a bit hollow.

I am unconvinced many Labour MSP's really disagree with MacAskill's decision, it's just the leadership has decided there is political capital in doing so, Henry McLeish has even came out behind MacAskills decision recently. This issue should not be turned into a political football.
 
kaya'08 said:
The release was just an other example of Political correctness conquering every aspect of British society, including the Judiciary system.
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Something that is affecting all of our governments and is a key factor in why we are having such a hard time dealing with obvious and blatant enemies. In shorter terms...we are being stupid.
 
Considering the case against the man was falling apart and there was serious doubt about his guilt, and all that evidence can now be released, then SNP might have the last laugh.

In fact it might be the US and UK that has egg on its face after this is over as it seems that one of the key witness that lead to his conviction was paid millions by the US and helped by the British government to move to Australia. Plus the fact that Scotland Yard withheld key evidence from the trial might just change the tone.
 
kaya'08 said:
Its all part of the same mess.
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Sad but true.

Is it just me annoyed at this silence by Brown?

When you do not want to hear from him, he is all over my screen doing his usual nonsense.
When i want him on my screen, he is nowhere to be found ....
 
Clever .... very clever.

Advertise in white i assume.
 
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Laila said:
Lockerbie release could topple SNP government - Times Online

Ouch.
US doesn't seem to happy with Scotland right now.

Wheres our resident Scot Anima?
Is it as bad as i am reading it to be
How likely is the no confidence vote to go through?
Click to expand...

From looking around here at the moment, and reading the Scottish papers and their opinion on the whole thing, I'd have say that in my opinion, things are nowhere near as bad as the above article is claiming. A lot of people are very, very annoyed, yeah - but the only calls for a no confidence vote I've seen have been from a few Labour MSP's, and that's to be expected, really. If the SNP passed a law declaring puppies cute and kittens adorable, Labour would still argue against it.

I'd also say the a vote of no confidence would be the WORST possible thing that could happen with regards to the Labour parties electoral fortunes.

I'm not sure how much everyone knows about our history with Labour, but they've won the over-whelimng majority of our MP seats since the founding of the party, and until the 2007 election, they had always been the largest party in the Scottish government.

We were the ultimate Labour stronghold until very recently, as a nation with a large working-poor population and marked socialist leanings. The Iraq War, and a growing feeling that Labour had abandoned their former principles (the "New Labour" ideal) led to them being kicked out of power in favour of the SNP. Although some would argue that that's less to do with what the SNP actually stands for as a party, and more to do with just getting Labour out at all costs.

I've seen no moderation in Scotland's anger with Labour, and when one considers how didfficult it is for a Tory to get elected in Scotland (two MP's and one MSP at present, I think) a recall would mist likely just return the SNP to power, possibly with even more MSP's and even more power. I'd also like to say that should the proposed American boycott go ahead, this won't make most Scots any angrier at the government; it'll distract us and that anger will be focused on the US. Again, as a nation we're still angry about the Iraq War. Give us another excuse to be angry at America, and it'll be taken immediately.

Basicaly, the government won't topple over this. The worst case scenario is losing Alex Salmon and moving on with a new SNP First Minister. The media always likes to blow things out of proportion, and this is no different.
 
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Laila said:
Sad but true.

Is it just me annoyed at this silence by Brown?

When you do not want to hear from him, he is all over my screen doing his usual nonsense.
When i want him on my screen, he is nowhere to be found ....
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Well, the MP's are all on holiday at the moment, including Brown. I think it's technically Peter Mandleson that's in charge at the moment.
 
I'd say that Scotland is a far more civilized nation than America or Libya.Thus the events should be expected, as natural.
The Scots feel they are doing the right thing. We are wrong for even thinking boycott...
Libya is still in the stone age, as they are Islamic..
 
Anima said:
Well, the MP's are all on holiday at the moment, including Brown. I think it's technically Peter Mandleson that's in charge at the moment.
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Brown has the balls to go on Holiday? Most likely with tax payers money, too. What a twat, hope his plane crashes.
 
kaya'08 said:
Brown has the balls to go on Holiday? Most likely with tax payers money, too. What a twat, hope his plane crashes.
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Aye, if I'm remembering correctly, he is or was until very recently on holiday in the Lake District. And that's a bit much, Kaya. I agree that he's made a tremendous mess of his time in office so far, but I don't think we should be wishing death on him. He's still a human being, after all.
 
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Anima said:
Aye, if I'm remembering correctly, he is or was until very recently on holiday in the Lake District. And that's a bit much, Kaya. I agree that he's made a tremendous mess of his time in office so far, but I don't think we should be wishing death on him. He's still a human being, after all.
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Pshh yeah who has caused many generations of British human beings grief. If there is one thing i cant stand, its a hypocrite. Ill stand by my statement.
 
kaya'08 said:
Pshh yeah who has caused many generations of British human beings grief. If there is one thing i cant stand, its a hypocrite. Ill stand by my statement.
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"Hypocrite?" How come?
 
Anima said:
"Hypocrite?" How come?
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Because he has the balls to stand in front of a Camera and tell us we should spend and that we will pull through this together as Britons while he uses our taxpayers money that should be coming back to us and helping us out in these hard times on his Brothers godforsaken cleaner.
 
kaya'08 said:
Because he has the balls to stand in front of a Camera and tell us we should spend and that we will pull through this together as Britons while he uses our taxpayers money that should be coming back to us and helping us out in these hard times on his Brothers godforsaken cleaner.
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That's politicians for you, unfortunately. I'm now of the opinion that anyone who manages to get the job is obviously far too dishonest to be allowed to do it.
 
Anima said:
That's politicians for you, unfortunately. I'm now of the opinion that anyone who manages to get the job is obviously far too dishonest to be allowed to do it.
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Plato once said those who seek power are not worthy of that power

Politicans get to where they are by lying, back stabbing and dropping their morals 8/10 times.
You cannot get into the position of PM or Cabinet without some dirty work.
 
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kaya'08 said:
The release was just an other example of Political correctness conquering every aspect of British society, including the Judiciary system.
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Spot on, Kaya, spot on.
 
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