OurKingdom on Lockerbie and the devolution of justice: see also Gerry Hassan on Lockerbie, justice and the price of devolution and Guy Aitchison on Tory reactions
Tom Griffin (London, OK): The Spectator's Alex Massie argues that yesterday's decision on whether to free Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi would have been dealt with by a Scottish official even before devolution. The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg believes it would have been taken by a member of the UK Government.
The two views aren't necessarily mutually exclusive, and either way, Scottish Justice Minister Kenny McAskill's role in releasing the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing has shown that the power exercised by Scottish Ministers can have implications of not only UK-wide but international significance.
Splintered Sunrise suggests that the SNP might for once have been happy to defer to Westminster, but that won't have stopped some in the other devolved jurisdictions coveting similar powers.
Plaid Commons leader Elfyn Llwyd called on Tuesday for the Welsh Assembly to be given responsibility for justice. According to the Western Mail's Tomos Livingstone, some Welsh police chiefs would welcome the move.
It's in Northern Ireland that devolution of justice is highest on the agenda, but also most contentious. Nationalists want to see a justice ministry established as soon as possible, while unionists are more wary.
In an effort to protect its flank, the DUP has argued that progress requires a consensus in the Stormont Assembly. That prospect receded last week when the Ulster Unionists said that the devolution of justice should be delayed for five years. This suggestion caused particular alarm among nationalists because of the UUP's alliance with the Tories.
Sinn Féin Justice Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has since claimed that Shadow Northern Ireland Owen Paterson views the UUP stance with "some considerable dismay."
However, a Conservative spokesman today denied any split:
“There is no discrepancy between ourselves and the UUP. Whatever they decide in relation to this and negotiate with the other parties we will abide by.”
“We would not talk in terms of issuing them a blank cheque and no doubt there will be further hurdles down the road. But we are not involved in the discussions between the parties in Northern Ireland.”
That will raise fears that a Conservative government could effectively give the whip hand on the issue to the third largest party in the Assembly. It's still likely that Stormont will get its own counterpart to Kenny MacAskill soon, but the next few months will be crucial.
