Unenviable Situation for Gordon Brown

The PM will take part in a press conference later today in which he is expected to finally face questions over the Megrahi affair.

Prior to the release of the convicted Libyan terrorist Brown could have, and in many minds should have, intervened either himself or with Jack Straw and David Miliband to prevent it happening. However, had he done that Holyrood would have been up in arms. The idea of a Westminster politician strolling in and exerting power would not appeal.

So, once Megrahi had been released there were three options open to Brown: 1) He could support the release on compassionate grounds seeing as it complied with Scottish law, and that would be beneficial to Westminster/Holyrood relations; 2) He could renounce the decision, isolate Scotland and help maintain the 'special relationship'; or 3) He could do what he has been doing, not say anything and try not to upset anyone. There are problems with all three, if GB were to support the Scots he could severely damage the 'special relationship' as well as leaving himself open to the 'soft on crime' criticism from the Tories; if he criticised the Scots Brown may well receive backing from the US, but he would have been open to an Opposition attack on the grounds of being the Americans' lapdog; and the final option, well you can see what's happened - he's been 'dithering' for a while now and if he does give an opinion he will still fall into the traps of the first two options.

Gordy looks a little stuffed.

NB If anything (more official) about oil and Westminster involvement is leaked Brown will be hung out to dry!