[The following is an excerpt from a report just published on The Scotsman website:]
Midlothian South SNP MSP Christine Grahame, a lawyer who has campaigned for an independent inquiry into the Lockerbie bombing, is to be convener of the justice committee after chairing the health and sport committee in the last parliament.
Oh wow. I suspect this is good news?
ReplyDeleteI think so Rolfe. I'm sure she's delighted.
ReplyDelete.....and maybe a sign of a major change in the government`s views of the Lockerbie murders. I have been shocked at some of the the personal vitriol directed at Christine by people who should know better and of whom I expected better; "attention seeker" and "loose cannon" were two of the nicer comments I`ve heard. It all related to her stance on Lockerbie!
ReplyDeleteIf she has now been placed in such an powerfull position, at a time when the contents of the SSCRC report seems about to hit the headlines, could there be a new agenda here? After all, many on this site have pointed out that it would be good for Salmond, MacAskill, The SNP and Scotland if the world came to view Megrahi as an innocent man. Maybe the penny has finally dropped.....
Hope springs eternal....
ReplyDeleteJust a thought: what if the Scottish Parliament's new Public Petitions Committee decides to refer the Justice for Megrahi petition PE1370 to the new Justice Committee chaired by Christine Grahame. Is there a potential ethical/conflict of interest problem here, given Christine's previous support for the JfM petition?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure she'd have to declare a conflict of interest Patrick. She has simply held, and expressed views, about the Lockerbie issue. That isn't a conflict of interest in my book. If someone like say, Richard Baker was chairman, would he have to declare a conflict of interest because he was vehemently against wanting justice in the Lockerbie case?
ReplyDeleteTime this tawdry and tragic event was subject to the full glare o' the licht o'day on all fronts.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe this will make any difference, it may even hog tie Grahame given the requirement on chairpersons to demonstrate impartiality at all times.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's why they appointed her Ian.
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong with impartial? What does the truth have to fear from impartial?
ReplyDeleteImpartial would be a refreshing change....