The only error on the part of AP here was not including a link to the Prime Ministers letter to Libya, otherwise this is a very deep article which leaves many open questions of whether or not England exerted pressure on Scotland for the release.
“The U.S. authorities indicated that although they were opposed to both prisoner transfer and compassionate release, they made it clear that they regarded compassionate release as far preferable to the transfer agreement, and Mr. Mueller should be aware of that,” the Scottish government said in a statement.
“Mr. Mueller was involved in the Lockerbie case, and therefore has strong views, but he should also be aware that while many families have opposed Mr. MacAskill’s decision, many others have supported it,” the statement said.
Libyan television showed pictures of Gadhafi singling out Brown, as well as “the Queen of Britain, Elizabeth, and Prince Andrew, who all contributed to encouraging the Scottish government to take this historic and courageous decision, despite the obstacles.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said Saturday the release was “entirely a matter for the Scottish government.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with palace policy.
Even so, Gadhafi’s son, Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, said al-Megrahi’s release was a constant point of discussion during trade talks. In comments aired on the Libyan television station he owns, he said those discussions stretched back to former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government.
I would like to hope that England played no part in the release through pressure on Scotland, but this and other articles for sure opens, wide, the door of wondering IF they did.