Dear Prime Minister, 
While in Edinburgh on Monday 27th Feb. I heard that prior to the book ‘Megrahi: you are my jury’ being launched, you had publicly claimed that it was an insult to the families of those who died at Lockerbie.
I just want you to be aware that far from being an insult, this book appears to raise issues which cast yet further doubt upon the verdict reached at Zeist against Mr Megrahi.
Dear Prime Minister,
While in Edinburgh on Monday 27th Feb. I heard that prior to the book ‘Megrahi: you are my jury’ being launched, you had publicly claimed that it was an insult to the families of those who died at Lockerbie.
I just want you to be aware that far from being an insult, this book appears to raise issues which cast yet further doubt upon the verdict reached at Zeist against Mr Megrahi.
We all know that times are hard, but in light of the doubts that exist about this conviction it would be hugely appreciated if some effort could be diverted by Whitehall to objective examination of the fall out from this terrible case.
Comments from Lady Thatcher’s time onwards about the tragedy surely now need review. She wrote in ‘The Downing Street Years’ that following the bombing by the USAF of Tripoli and Bengazi in 1986.
‘The much vaunted Libyan counter attack did not and could not take place. Gaddafi had not been destroyed but he had been humbled. There was a marked decline in Libyan sponsored terrorism in succeeding years.’
Yet the UK Government was telling us that Lockerbie was a Libyan atrocity from start to finish.
The paradox between those who actually try to comprehend all the available facts for and against the verdict over Megrahi and those with blind faith in the verdict is not resolving.
To comment in the way that you are reported to have done on Monday morning may be to support the wishes of the American Government and many American relatives, but what we search for is the truth, and that search is not likely to be well supported by such comments about a book which you could not possibly have read beforehand.
May I humbly suggest that you revisit ‘The Downing Street years’, (page 449), just to check that that is indeed what she wrote: there are over 900 pages all told. Then perhaps have an objective assessment made of the contents of the ‘Megrahi: you are my jury’ book, as I feel sure that you have not the time to read all of its almost 500 pages.
Please remember that although relatively small in number, our distress at what for some of us appears to be deliberate concealment of the truth is real, and when supported by so significant a person as yourself, deeply distressing. Bereavement is a life sentence as you know only too well.
That said I would welcome the opportunity to come and discuss the situation with yourself, or members of your cabinet.
In view of all this I have made the contents of this letter publicly available (without the need for any hacking!).
Any reply, from yourself, as courtesy demands, will receive appropriate confidentiality, unless cleared by you for similar treatment.
With best wishes to you and your family,
Dr Jim Swire
Father of Flora murdered, age 23, at Lockerbie 21/12/88.
