Gordon Brown sought yesterday to limit the damage caused by the disclosure that he had told victims of the IRA that it was not “appropriate” for him to help them to seek compensation from Libya.
The Prime Minister insisted that he cared “enormously” about victims and would provide government assistance in seeking direct talks with Colonel Gaddafi. His new position is in stark contrast to previous official attitudes faced by the victims of Semtex used by the IRA and supplied by Libya.
Lawyers representing 138 British victims of IRA attacks in a claim against Libya had asked Mr Brown to open negotiations for compensation. Semtex supplied by Libya was used by the IRA in at least ten of its worst attacks, including the bombing of