Al-Megrahi- why let the facts get in the way of a good conspiracy theory?

By Jack Straw

The Lockerbie atrocity was, until 11 September 2001, among the world’s worst ever terrorist outrages. 270 died.

As with 9/11, I can still remember exactly where I was (in the Commons) when the chilling news came through of a mid-air explosion over the borders of Scotland of a scheduled Pan Am flight to the US, and then the feelings of disbelief followed by anger of the whole of the civilised world as it became clear that this had been no accident, but a pre-planned mass murder, in cold blood.

After the most careful of forensic investigations, it emerged later still that elements of the state of Libya were involved. Some years afterwards, Libya made tentative steps to come back into the international fold.

A key part of that had to be the handing over of Lockerbie suspects, of whom Al-Megrahi was one. He was sentenced to a minimum of 27 years. But the steps by Libya to come back into the international community transpired to be partial only.

Suspicion grew in 2002 and 2003 from British and US intelligence that Libya had been developing a covert and highly dangerous nuclear weapons programme. Confronted with what we knew Libya finally agreed to allow the inspectors in, and dismantle arms in return for a programme of non-proliferation, including a Prisoner Transfer Agreement. That was wholly in the interests of this country, and the whole world.

Al-Megrahi was however not released by the Scottish Executive under any part of this normalisation deal. The Scottish Executive had an absolute right to veto a Prisoner Transfer Agreement for Al-Megrahi and they exercised it. Rather Al-Megrahi was released under quite separate and compassionate grounds. As the Scottish Executive made clear, they made the decision without any pressure from London.

That has not, however, stopped the conspiracy theories.

The prize for the most zany so far must go to the broadsheet newspaper, which suggested that I’d only released Great Train Robber, Ronnie Biggs, on compassionate grounds because of Al-Megrahi’s impending release.

Total nonsense.

I had no knowledge that Al-Megrahi was going to be released until I read about it on a BBC website, after I had released Biggs when his condition deteriorated. I understand of course why Al-Megrahi’s release prompts such strong feeling and emotion and it’s right that the decision is fully scrutinised.

What will become clear is whatever people may think of the decision of the Scottish Executive, there was no underhand deal, no grubby arrangement, no great, or small, conspiracy. But as so often when it comes to these matters, there are always some who are loath to accept the more straightforward truth.

After all, why let the facts get in the way of a good conspiracy theory?

Jack Straw MP blogs at Blackburn Labour where this article first appeared.