Latest news with #AlbaParty
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
John Swinney gives statement after Donald Trump meeting
The SNP leader attended the opening of the second golf course at Trump's Menie estate in Aberdeenshire on Tuesday, taking the opportunity to raise the concerns of Scottish businesses. A statement from the Scottish Government said that Swinney had urged the US president to consider economic protections for Scotland's whisky and salmon sector, including an exemption for whisky from the 10% tariff applied on UK exports into the US. The SNP leader also presented Trump with proposals – first floated by the Alba Party in late 2024 – to provide Edinburgh Airport with US customs pre-clearance facilities. Several Irish and Canadian cities have "pre-clearance" facilities on site, which allow passengers travelling to the US to go through customs and immigration before boarding the plane. The First Minister said a Scottish version of the same would help 'demonstrate the strength of America's enduring relationship with its friend and partner, Scotland'. The statement further said that the First Minister had been 'unequivocal in demanding action to tackle the 'unbearable, unjust and inhumane' situation unfolding in Gaza, as he urged the president to use his immense influence to bring an end to the humanitarian crisis'. Swinney also raised the issue of Ukraine, calling on Trump to 'stand firm in defence of democracy and peace against Russian aggression'. Speaking after the meeting, Swinney said: 'During our discussions, I was able to represent the interests and values of Scotland directly with the president, specifically, urging him to make the case for tariff exemptions for our world class whisky and salmon sector. 'I believe there is now a window of opportunity to make the case for whisky and at the invitation of the president, I intend to make further representation to him on this matter. READ MORE: Donald Trump in Scotland 'can only be a good thing', says Anas Sarwar 'I implored President Trump to use his immense influence on the Israeli government to end the unbearable, unjust, and inhumane situation unfolding in Gaza, and to bring an end to the humanitarian crisis we are witnessing. 'As a proud country that stands firm on the principles of equality and freedom for all, I urged President Trump to help make those ideals – American ideals – a reality for the people of Ukraine. 'Scotland has consistently stood with the people of Ukraine in defence of freedom, peace and a just society, and we want to see a world where those principles apply to all.'
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Ex-justice secretary demands UK pay for Trump's visit
The Alba Party leader made the comments as Mr Trump has said he is looking forward to meeting First Minister John Swinney with the pair expected to meet during the president's four-day trip to Scotland, which begins tonight. Mr Trump will visit both of the golf clubs he owns in the country - Turnberry in South Ayrshire and Menie, near Aberdeen, in the coming days. He is also due to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his visit. Before boarding the presidential plane Air Force One to fly to Scotland, the US President told journalists: "The Scottish leader is a good man, so I look forward to meeting him." He also said he has a "lot of love" for Scotland. READ MORE: Billed as a private visit, the trip comes ahead of the state visit, expected to take place in September, when Mr Trump will meet the King. Despite that, the president's visit will prove a huge logistical challenge for Police Scotland, with the national force calling in support from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Earlier this week, both the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, and the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents raised concerns about the pressure being put on policing by the arrival of the US leader. In a statement Mr MacAskill said: "We are seeing our police service drained, front line policing undermined and officers burned out as a result of the pressures being put on Police Scotland to police the Trump visit to Scotland. "The private visit is only taking place because Sir [[Keir Starmer]] wanted the visit to take place away from Parliament. Therefore it is only right and proper that full cost reimbursement for the massive policing costs of the Trump visit should be met from the coffers of the UK and not the Scottish Government. 'The UK Government met the core costs when world leaders came to Scotland for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and that is the very least that should happen now. 'But this private trip is only happening because the UK Government have invited Trump to the UK and so they should meet the full costs. 'We must not have the double whammy of our police services being stretched while at the same time the Scottish Government having to pick up the massive costs of policing the Trump visit. That is why the UK Government must meet the full costs for the visit and the disruption which they have imposed on Scotland.' Speaking to the PA news agency ahead of the visit on Friday, Mr Swinney said the meeting will be "an opportunity to "essentially speak out for Scotland" on international issues such as Gaza, as well as trade and the increase of business from the United States in Scotland. "There are clearly also significant international issues upon which the people of Scotland have a view and want to have that view expressed by their First Minister," he said. "That relates to the awfulness of the situation in Gaza and the unbearable human suffering that is going on in Gaza. "I want to make sure that those concerns and those views are expressed to the president of the United States. "We have that opportunity, and I intend to take that opportunity to make sure that Scotland's voice is heard." Mr Swinney also urged all of those set to protest against the president's visit to do so "peacefully and to do so within the law". A UK Government spokeswoman said: 'There are established processes for considering the policing costs of visits to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by foreign dignitaries.'
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Ex justice secretary demands UK pay for Trump's visit
The Alba Party leader made the comments as Mr Trump has said he is looking forward to meeting First Minister John Swinney with the pair expected to meet during the president's four-day trip to Scotland, which is expected to begin on Friday evening. Mr Trump will visit both of the golf clubs he owns in the country - Turnberry in South Ayrshire and Menie, near Aberdeen, in the coming days. He is also due to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his visit. Before boarding the presidential plane Air Force One to fly to Scotland, the US President told journalists: "The Scottish leader is a good man, so I look forward to meeting him." He also said he has a "lot of love" for Scotland. READ MORE: Billed as a private visit, the trip comes ahead of the state visit, expected to take place in September, when Mr Trump will meet the King. Despite that, the president's visit will prove a huge logistical challenge for Police Scotland, with the national force calling in support from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Earlier this week, both the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, and the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents raised concerns about the pressure being put on policing by the arrival of the US leader. In a statement Mr MacAskill said: "We are seeing our police service drained, front line policing undermined and officers burned out as a result of the pressures being put on Police Scotland to police the Trump visit to Scotland. "The private visit is only taking place because Sir [[Keir Starmer]] wanted the visit to take place away from Parliament. Therefore it is only right and proper that full cost reimbursement for the massive policing costs of the Trump visit should be met from the coffers of the UK and not the Scottish Government. 'The UK Government met the core costs when world leaders came to Scotland for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and that is the very least that should happen now. 'But this private trip is only happening because the UK Government have invited Trump to the UK and so they should meet the full costs. 'We must not have the double whammy of our police services being stretched while at the same time the Scottish Government having to pick up the massive costs of policing the Trump is why the UK Government must meet the full costs for the visit and the disruption which they have imposed on Scotland.' Speaking to the PA news agency ahead of the visit on Friday, Mr Swinney said the meeting will be "an opportunity to "essentially speak out for Scotland" on international issues such as Gaza, as well as trade and the increase of business from the United States in Scotland. "There are clearly also significant international issues upon which the people of Scotland have a view and want to have that view expressed by their First Minister," he said. "That relates to the awfulness of the situation in Gaza and the unbearable human suffering that is going on in Gaza. "I want to make sure that those concerns and those views are expressed to the president of the United States. "We have that opportunity, and I intend to take that opportunity to make sure that Scotland's voice is heard." Mr Swinney also urged all of those set to protest against the president's visit to do so "peacefully and to do so within the law". The UK Government was approached for comment.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Sex assault claim against late Alex Salmond is dismissed
Police Scotland said no further action will be taken following a complaint made last year in the wake of the former first minister's death, aged 69. Mr Salmond, who left the Scottish National Party in 2018 and later established the pro-independence Alba Party, suffered a heart attack and died while attending a conference in North Macedonia last October. One month later, the police force said it had received a report of a 'non-recent sexual assault'. It is understood that the case has been closed owing to insufficient evidence. A report was not submitted to the Crown Office. Mr Salmond served as first minister under the SNP from 2007 to 2014 and led the party through the independence referendum. He resigned from the party in 2018 when allegations of sexual misconduct emerged and ultimately set up the Alba Party in 2021. His latter years were, however, dominated by claims and counter-claims about his conduct. In 2019, Mr Salmond successfully sued the Scottish government, led by his former protege Nicola Sturgeon, for its handling of an investigation into complaints of sexual harassment made against him. He was awarded £500,000 (€575,000) after the inquiry was ruled to be 'tainted with apparent bias'. The former first minister was subsequently charged with 13 sexual offences, including attempted rape, but was acquitted on all counts after the 2020 trial. During his evidence to the court, Mr Salmond said he had a 'sleepy cuddle' with one complainer in his official residence. However, he described the claims made about his alleged conduct as 'deliberate fabrications for a political purpose' or 'exaggerations'. Mr Salmond's lawyer told the court the former first minister 'could certainly have been a better man', but had not committed any crimes. An inquiry into the government's handling of complaints against Mr Salmond found Ms Sturgeon had misled MSPs over a meeting with her predecessor in her home in 2018, but cleared her of breaching the ministerial code.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Alex Salmond cleared of historical sexual assault claim
An allegation of historical sexual assault against the late Alex Salmond has been dismissed after a police investigation. Police Scotland said no further action will be taken following a complaint made last year in the wake of the former first minister's death, aged 69. Mr Salmond, who left the SNP in 2018 and later established the pro-independence Alba Party, suffered a heart attack and died while attending a conference in North Macedonia in October 2024. One month later, the national force said it had received a report of a 'non-recent sexual assault'. It is understood that the case has been closed owing to insufficient evidence. A report was not submitted to the Crown Office. Mr Salmond served as first minister under the SNP from 2007 to 2014 and led the party through the independence referendum. He resigned from the party in 2018 when allegations of sexual misconduct emerged and ultimately set up the Alba Party in 2021. His latter years were, however, dominated by claims and counter claims about his conduct. In 2019, Mr Salmond successfully sued the Scottish government, led by his former protégé Nicola Sturgeon, for its handling of an investigation into complaints of sexual harassment made against him. 'Tainted with bias' He was awarded £500,000 after the inquiry was ruled to be 'tainted with apparent bias'. The former first minister was subsequently charged with 13 sexual offences, including attempted rape, but was acquitted on all counts after the 2020 trial. During his evidence to the court, Mr Salmond said he had a 'sleepy cuddle' with one complainer in his official residence. However, he described the claims made about his alleged conduct as 'deliberate fabrications for a political purpose' or 'exaggerations'. Mr Salmond's lawyer told the court the former first minister 'could certainly have been a better man' but had not committed any crimes. He said that his client had sometimes behaved badly, calling him 'touchy-feely'. A Holyrood inquiry into the government's handling of complaints against Mr Salmond found Ms Sturgeon had misled MSPs over a meeting with her predecessor in her home in 2018, but cleared her of breaching the ministerial code. Following the trial, Mr Salmond repeatedly claimed that many in his former party had colluded against him in an effort to block his return to frontline politics. On Thursday, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Following a report of a non-recent sexual assault, enquiries were carried out and no further action will be taken.'
