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John Prescott said today that he did not have "any objections" to the release of the Lockerbie bomber.
The Scottish National Party seized on the former deputy prime minister's remark as proof that senior Labour figures were happy with the Edinburgh government's decision to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi last week.
Gordon Brown yesterday broke his silence on the affair to condemn the hero's welcome given to the convicted terrorist on his arrival in Tripoli.
But the Prime Minister refused to comment on the decision itself, allowing Labour's Scottish party to attack the SNP.
Today Mr Prescott became the first senior Labour figure in England to support the prisoner's release.
"I don't have any objections. If the man is dying, if compassion is part, and the medical authorities then get proof to that effect, then it's a decision for the legal authority," he told Sky News.
"Scotland has always had a great deal of independence of its legal authority, so we have to respect that decision."
Labour's former Scottish first minister Henry McLeish has also backed the decision, although his successor Jack McConnell condemned the SNP.
Reader views (26)
I would give any reader of this 10 to 1 that Megrahi will be alive in a years time.
- Charlie, London, 27/08/2009 00:32
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I will always remember the generous heart of the Peoples of Scotland that bestowed, for all our countries sakes, the beautiful Scottish Cairn unto Arlington National Cememtary to pay homage to the two hundred seventy.
- Lisa Barner, Irving, Tx. USA, 27/08/2009 00:31
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Don't tell me that Scotland can decide to release a terrorist from prison and the Home Office and/or the Prime Minister can do nothing about it.
It is true that the Scottish Legal System has always been entirely independent of Westminster, and that many additional powers have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament; however there are some clear exceptions including matters of national security (i.e. including terrorism) and international relations.
So either we have a Prime Minister who is not willing to take responsibility for his own decisions, or he did indeed let Scotland make the decision which is not legally theirs to make. Either way, he's incompetent and, once again, in keeping quiet he's proving himself to be spineless.
- Karen, London, 26/08/2009 21:36
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"Scotland has always had a great deal of independence of its legal authority, so we have to respect that decision."
But the Scottish legal system has no say over whether he can leave the country, only whether he can leave prison, so the ball's back in Westminster's court.
People die in prison all the time; the only valid reason for release was doubt over his guilt (which I happen to hold myself, for what it's worth). But that wasn't why he was released, was it?
- Mdj E10, london uk, 26/08/2009 21:22
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I understand both sides of this argument about Mr Addelbassets release, it is not an easy call. What galls me to no end as an American is the self-righteous condemnation coming from members of our political elite, both Repubs. and Dems. Our govt. in all the Administrations have shielded the planner who lives here of the bombing
of a Cuban Jetliner in 1973. Our CIA is well familiar with this man having worked with him in the past. The only governments who want to have him prosecuted for this crime are Venezuela
and Cuba of course. I apologise for not remembering this criminal's name. I so not feel it my responsibility to either condemn or support the actions of the Scottish Government. Steve Townsend
- Steve Townsend, Davenport Iowa USA, 26/08/2009 21:09
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Lets face it, Prescott is to be taken less seriously than Kermit the Frog or Miss Piggy.
The man is a buffoon.
- Eoin Mcgreeghan, Derry, NI, 26/08/2009 20:56
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Poor Pauline she must be so humilated by him. He got where he was by labour union patronage just as bad as inherited patronage.That such a stupid man should still be in public life after the farce he made in politics is so sad . Like I say at least we arent married to him.
- Shabbytiger, Milton Keynes, 26/08/2009 20:35
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Croquet playing, clunking fist Two-loos la Prescott - is the embodiment of everything gross and offensive about the current party pretending to be in power.
In ten months time they will all be crushed into a minority party and be quickly forgotten but the damage they have caused to this country will last for generations.
- Ricky, Hackney, London, 26/08/2009 20:12
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Whose woken Prescott up.
He's normally so busy fiddling his expenses and eating.
Does anyone care what he thinks.
- Pat Morgan, spain, 26/08/2009 19:59
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Ah yes, Brown can put his fingers in ears when asked about if was in favour of bomber release, NA NA NA I CAN'T HEAR YOU! but he has intellectual dwarfs like Prescott and Ainsworth who forget the script and trip him up. Did Brown write a letter expressing his concern at the bombers release? No. Did Brown write a nice letter to Gaddafi asking him not to make a fuss? yes. We all know the answer. They were all in on this.
- Edgar, London, 26/08/2009 18:59
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John Prescott seems to be giving an opinion on just about everything at the moment! Is he worried we might forget who he is (or was)! John Prescott! Wasn’t he Minister for Chipolatas and Croquet or was he the Minister for "Running up and down stairs shouting caught you at it again Mabel"! On reflection I think that may have been a Monty Python character, I rest my case!
- Ij, Wisbech, 26/08/2009 18:46
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JOHN PRESCOT THE LABOUR CLOWN HOW CAN ANYONE LISTEN TO THIS FOOL
- Alan Talbot, epping england, 26/08/2009 18:30
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Once an Idiot always an idiot!
- John, Bickley, 26/08/2009 18:20
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This from the man who punched someone who threw an egg at him! He now expectes the families of those murdered by the bomber to accept 'compassion' as a reason to set him free to gloat.
- Beatriz, London, 26/08/2009 17:50
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well,well,well no surprise to me that Prescott has started the ball rolling on the do good front.So lets let out all the ill criminals and move them all to live around the likes of Prescott and the other puppets running England.
I will feel really safe knowing that terrorists are out there again.Do you think he is grateful or revengeful.Shame on you and the government.
- Allan Clarke, Brasil, 26/08/2009 17:47
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Prescott has just proved what a fool he is.
How can someone murder 270 people in cold blood and then be released from prison.
I have many American friends and this has made me ashamed to be British.
What is the point of fighting a so called 'War on Terror' with our military guys being killed when the Jock government releases terrorists after 8 years?
As I said, I am thoroughly ashamed to be Britsh right now.
- Paul Tompkins, Kettering, 26/08/2009 17:46
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A man well known for his insight into sensible foreign policy, a man renowned for his clarity of thought and ability to do the right thing at the right time...Might as well have asked Jordan her view.
Please wander off into the sunset with your fat pension and comment on something you may know something about...eating chips, Jaguars and how to create a mock Tudor effect perhaps?
- David B, Winchester, 26/08/2009 17:41
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So - a statesmanlike pronouncement from John Prescott, the embodiment of Parliamentary dignity and gravitas (not)and guardian of New Labour's moral compass (equally not).
In the absence of a definitive statement from Mr Brown, I suppose the next thing we should await is one from Harriet Harman to really set the seal on things.
al-Megrahi's release was an ill-calculated move. It would have been equally compassionate to move him to an open prison for the remainder of his sentence and fly his sick mother over to see him.
- Edward Thompson, Bedfordshire, 26/08/2009 17:24
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John Prescott Can comment on this but Gordon Brown cant. I thought Gordon Brown was Prime minister of the United kingdom of which Scotland is part so he must be the last word on any deal done.I also belive that all prisons are Her Majestys Prisons So any relise should be approved by the head of such IE the Home Secretary.Anyone care to explain that
- David Smith, Croydon, 26/08/2009 17:21
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What does John Prescott understand about this case? Nothing. Zero. He craves publicity but is now regarded as an incompetent, selfish politician who really only cared about himself. For years the taxpayer had to pay for the pompous 'Office of the Deputy Prime Minister' so that Tony Blair could keep this darling of Old Labour content with the trappings of power. We really, really are not interested in anything he has to say.
- Simon Ellis, London E8, 26/08/2009 17:16
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What has it got to do with him?
- Susan, Sudbury, Suffolk, 26/08/2009 17:00
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Well well well,
2 Jags at it again. Please tell me how this Government
can refuse to extradite 6 suspected terrorists to the USA on human rights grounds and allow the extradition of business men and a computer hacker who is ill to face trial.
By the way this is a one way extradition deal. If we want a USA citizen forget it.
No doubt there are some who did not want Megrahi's 2nd appeal to go ahead on such slim Maltese evidence etc.
After all this, the Government of the British Isles, now tell us that they could not interfere with the Scottish Parliament.
God help us. Brown won't.
- Macdangler, Wimbledon SW19, 26/08/2009 16:35
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well that's alright then, if Pressa's up for it then we can all rest assured that all is well with the world; everything is tickity boo.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 26/08/2009 16:09
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Who cares what John Prescott says. The release of this criminal is a travesty of justice and is criminal in its own right
- Strongbow Sullivan, Paris,France., 26/08/2009 15:42
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prescott is not a senior labour figure, he is just an MP. Therefore this is a personal opinion and implies nothing about official Govt views..
- Martin_Clerkenwell, london, 26/08/2009 15:38
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If John Prescott says it's all right then it must be, musn't it?
Did he not used to a politician or something like that?
- Scotty, Cambridge UK, 26/08/2009 15:20
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