Swinney and Starmer discuss Grangemouth, migration, and economy at meeting
Swinney travelled to London to attend a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions – a unique forum of devolved government leaders and English mayors.
Starmer was expected to discuss recent international trade deals with India, the United States, and Europe. Leaders also received a briefing on national security.
The First Minister also met with Starmer one-on-one to talk about specific issues relating to Scotland.
Following the meeting, a spokesperson for the Scottish Government said the pair discussed migration, the economy, the future of Grangemouth, and more.
'The First Minister held talks with the Prime Minister where they discussed key issues, including tackling child poverty, migration and growing the economy, not least by investing in Grangemouth, carbon capture and Project Acorn,' the spokesperson said.
'Discussions on international relations included trade deals, Ukraine and Gaza, including the need to end conflict and ensure humanitarian assistance.
'The First Minister also met the First Minister of Wales and the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland to discuss areas of common concern.'
Swinney previously said he would also use the meeting to urge Starmer to take formal action to reverse the UK Labour Government's controversial winter fuel payment cuts.
Ahead of the meeting on Thursday, Swinney said the first action of the UK Government must be to 'accept the cut to the Winter Fuel Payment was wrong and announce a restoration so all pensioners get a payment'.
His statement comes days after Starmer indicated at Prime Minister's Questions that he wants more pensioners across the UK to be eligible for winter fuel payments following what he called improvements to the economy.
Scottish leaders have called these indications 'empty', and Swinney said he would be pushing for Starmer to make the u-turn more concrete.
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Powys County Times
27 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Scottish space company gets launch licence but is still searching for a pad
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Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
'Government needs to get a grip': Southport residents say they STILL fear anti-migrant riots one year on from violence... and they aren't alone
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'People can't understand why that is not happening. It's no use telling us about human rights because this is affecting everyone. 'Illegal immigration is killing this country. It is putting a vast strain on the NHS and welfare and schools because too many people are coming into the country and we can't cope. 'I keep reading about how much money we are paying the French to stop asylum seekers crossing the Channel but the boats are still coming. 'Somebody has to address the problem. I don't want to see or read about another riot like we had in Southport but the Government must get a grip.' Businesswoman Kimberley Parker, 37, runs pet groomers Glad Wags just down from the mosque. Liberal in her views, she blamed the riot on 'bigotry and ignorance' and was particularly upset that the rioters targeted a hard-working Asian family who run a local shop doors away from her own. 'The thugs who raided their shop went for the alcohol and cigarettes and got away with more than £10,000,' she says. 'I was just very disappointed in my fellow human beings. The only good thing is that the riot brought his all closer together in Southport, especially around here. 'That was the one big positive to come out of it all. 'But the hard truth is that people will read and accept lies as the truth and I suppose that is because they want to. 'And we have to accept that people are now angry for all sorts of reasons and one of them I think is because they don't see the Government as very strong. It bends too easily. 'On the one hand we are getting misinformation from social media about the dangers of illegal immigration and on the other we are not getting enough information from the Government over how many immigrants are arriving here and what they intend to do about it. 'I don't think Starmer is being proactive enough. 'We need to sort out what is going on. 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'A year on and nothing has changed under Labour, people are still massively concerned which is why Reform won every seat at the recent elections. 'The only change at the hotel seems to be permanent security guards on reception which shows there is still a high level of threat and concern.' Claire Mitchell, 51, a Tamworth local and a regular gym-goer, said: 'What happened a year ago was horrific to see. I was ashamed and surprised. I did not think Tamworth was that sort of place. 'I don't believe everything I read on social media. There are people with agendas seeking to sew division. 'I have seen people from the hotel sitting around the lake and passing the time of day like anyone else might. It is not something I get concerned about. 'Fake news is a terrible thing and the riots we saw last year were prompted by that. 'Tamworth is a great place. I was brought up here and it has so much more to offer than the terrible behaviour of a minority. I find it sad that its reputation has been tarnished in this way. 'A year on, I do not think it matters which political party is in power. 'For me, anyone who risks their life getting on a dinghy to cross the sea has got something to run from. 'There will always be some who take advantage of a humanitarian situation but we must not let that blind us.' Retired IT guy and gym-goer Alex Freeman, 72, said: 'Whatever your opinion of the immigration situation, there is no excuse for threatening people's welfare and damaging property and that's what happened last year. 'I don't mind peaceful protest but that was threatening harm to other human beings and that is just wrong. 'I am anti the boats, I think immigration should be controlled and if you do something illegal then you shouldn't end up being given free stuff in a hotel. 'It's difficult. These are obviously desperate people but this country is not so big. 'It annoys me when I see homeless people in this country and then I think these people in the hotels have travelled across multiple countries to get to the UK. 'Why are they doing this? I know France and Germany take a lot in but I don't think they are treated as nicely as we treat them. 'We have limited resources – we have a broken NHS, potholes everywhere and we're constantly being told there is not enough money, so of course people are going to be angry. 'This is a terrible situation. 'I don't have any reason to think the people in the hotel are any different or worse than anyone else. 'I see them doing things we all do – going to the lake, looking at the ducks. If some do naughty stuff then that is rare just as it is rare when one of us commits a crime. 'And I know they are a tiny fraction of overall immigration. They get a lot of attention but they are not the ones breaking our system.' A 36-year-old mother of three, and regular gym goer, said: 'I do feel a little bit unsafe in the dark evenings. I park a bit closer to the entrance because the hotel is full of males and they hang around with nothing to do and it does make you feel on edge. 'I did not agree with the protests. Violence is never the answer but people don't feel listened to so it is difficult. 'Yes, you feel unsafe but I also feel a bit sorry for them. Where are they meant to go? 'I saw more police around now than I did before last year's trouble but I don't know whether that is to keep everyone safe or because something has happened. 'There is a lot of hearsay, a lot of rumours. I hear about women being cat-called but I have never have anything like that happen to me personally so it is a difficult one to judge.'
Daily Mail
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Class warfare is back under this spiteful government – and we will ALL end up paying a ruinous price: LEO MCKINSTRY
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