Policy Research Media Morhamburn

Leaving aside the actual issue of whether or not he should have been released, and of Peter Mandelson and Libyan trade deals, you can’t help but feel that the motives behind Kenny MacAskill’s decision were the right ones.

He has had the courage of his convictions, and made what was always likely to be an unpopular decision. The fact that he has defended the decision so genuinely and at times eloquently, has I think made the decision less unpopular than it otherwise threatened to be. The fact that he has retained his dignity and poise amid so much US-style hyperbole and hypocrisy has shown him in a good light.

Malcolm Chisholm has also emerged with credit for not swinging thoughtlessly behind a Party line and having independence of thought. This issue shows that it is not always the decisions that MSPs make that are important, as much as the reasons behind those decisions.

I certainly have no difficulty imagining many of those condemning MacAskill’s decision rushing to support the same decision if it had been made by one of their Party leaders.

The Editor of Holyrood Magazine Mandy Rhodes also notes her amazement at the number of MSPs who privately state their support, yet publically oppose.

Also good to see our Prime Minister showing real leadership over the important issues of the day – he after all managed to find time to congratulate the England cricket team on winning the Ashes, but was too busy to address the Lockerbie bomber issue….