The escalating row over the Supreme Court was joined today by Professor Robert Black QC, following Maggie Scott QC’s warning that the First Minister’s rhetoric was symptomatic of a “developing culture that is anti-civil liberties” in Scotland.

“The Scottish Government has a golden opportunity to show that it is just as serious about investigating, rectifying and learning lessons from possible mistakes by the Scottish criminal justice system as it is about "protecting Scots law's independence" from a predatory Supreme Court,” Professor Black said today.

“It should immediately announce the establishment of an independent inquiry into the conviction of Abdel baset Megrahi. Until that happens, the Scottish Government can with justice be accused of being more concerned with political posturing than with securing the rights of those who have been ill-served by Scotland's criminal justice system.”

Earlier this week Paul McBride QC had said the First Minister’s critics should “put up or shut up”.

“We have a situation where the UK Supreme Court only hears English appeals when it has the permission of the English Court of Appeal. But it is looking at Scottish cases without any such leave,” McBride said.

“Those criticising the First Minister should explain why they think the Scottish court of criminal appeal is inferior.”