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Brown admits he raised Lockerbie case in call to Obama
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor11 Sep 2009
Downing Street faced charges of confusion over the Lockerbie bomber case today after it emerged that Gordon Brown raised the issue of his release in a call to Barack Obama.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Mr Brown had instigated the reference to Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi in his talk with the US president.
The revelation further undermined No10's initial decision not to disclose that the subject had been discussed by the two leaders.
The White House revealed last night that Mr Obama had expressed his "disappointment" over the release during a 40-minute phone call with Mr Brown.
But No10 failed to reveal the information, instead mentioning "warm" talks about the G20 and Afghanistan.
Downing Street was later forced to admit that the two men had "exchanged views" over the release but Mr Brown had made it clear the decision had been a matter for the Scottish government.
Today, the Prime Minister's spokesman said he had not mentioned the Lockerbie conversation as it was only a "small" part of a long discussion.
He said the Government had always assumed the White House would reveal that the issue had been discussed.
He said: "I can confirm that the Prime Minister did raise the issue of the release of Mr Al-Megrahi with President Obama in their phone call yesterday.
"In doing so the Prime Minister said that it had been a decision for the Scottish government."
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said it further underlined the problems created by the Scottish government's action: "The decision to release Megrahi caused outrage that has crossed continents and damaged our relationship with our closest ally."
Downing Street said Mr Brown and Mr Obama had concluded the special relationship between the UK and the US was "as strong as ever".
Megrahi was released last month, eight years into a life sentence imposed for his part in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in December 1988 which killed 270.
Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill opted to free Megrahi on compassionate grounds because the bomber has terminal cancer.
Earlier this week, Schools Secretary Ed Balls - one of Mr Brown's closest allies - claimed that the Prime Minister had not wanted the bomber freed despite Libyan negotiators having apparently been told Mr Brown did not believe Megrahi should die in prison.
Reader views (4)
The spin and waffle machine in Downing Street has been working overtime recently.
ALL TO NO AVAIL. MR OBAMA CAN SMELL A RAT FROM 3,000 MILES AWAY.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 11/09/2009 14:52
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At last the Brown smell has finally wafted its way from Downing Street to the White House, and Barak doesn't like it one bit.
- Ted, London, 11/09/2009 13:15
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Come on Bingham - this lot of mealy mouthed, devious spinners are even giving 'showers' a bad name. Bring on an election asap!
- Mark Myword, London, 11/09/2009 11:31
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When will this country wake up to the fact that Brown has created a mirage of competence on bullying, deceit, obfuscation and lies?? This pervades this whole Labour government and dictates their conduct continuously, twenty four hours a day.
Creative proposals are non existent and any emanating from other sources have to be immediately destroyed.
What a shower.
- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, hampshire, 11/09/2009 10:53
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