For me the real problem with this whole Libya/lockerbie problem is the way this Government seems to prefer to handle foreign policy and has now got it into a mess with the US Government and previously with EU partners.

I still recall way back in 1997 Robin Cook promising an ethical foreign policy for the UK. Well that would appear to have been truly ditched a long time ago – presumably well befor the Iraq war.

Once again we see the lure of massive trade deals  – a £550 million Oil deal in this case, being the price for sweeping any collection of ethical concerns under the carpet of convenience. From Human rights, arms deals with dictatorships to environmental destruction it would seem that if the price is right this Labour Government will happily turn a blind eye.

To a degree I can appreciate some dilemmas. For instance a deal that provided a major economic boost to UK business and provides or sustains jobs. That would be hard to turn down. But surely to goodness we can inject a bit more moral steel into our negotiations and without totally abandoning our principles.

If this whole Libya/Lockerbie prisoner episode show anything it is the need to reinvigorate our foreign policy with a strong ethical backbone and stop being played for the spineless money grabbing western power we must appear to be to some less than scrupulous foreign powers at times.

Gordon Brown is desperately keen to get G20 Governments signed up to greater control on bank bonuses – why not do the same for an ethical aspect to Foreign policy?