Latest news with #OperationBroadcroft
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Airport responds to Yousaf in 'complicit in war crimes' row
Prestwick Airport is publicly owned, and Mr Yousaf warned that its continued use by the American air force could make Scotland complicit in war crimes. "I would hope the Scottish Government would take advice on its legal obligations and that includes planes refuelling at Prestwick. 'Scotland, including through the use of our publicly owned assets such as Prestwick, cannot be complicit," he said. READ MORE: Humza Yousaf warns Scotland could be 'complicit in war crimes' Operation Broadcroft: Police inquiry into evidence to Salmond probe 'ongoing' Analysis: John Swinney's leadership is safe – for now – as plotters fall silent Analysis: In all my Holyrood committee-watching years, I've never seen such a mauling But today Prestwick Airport responded pointing out it has been providing "services to military customers from around the world" for decades. 'Glasgow Prestwick Airport operates on a commercial basis and at arms-length from the Scottish Government," a spokeswoman said. "For almost 80 years the airport has been providing aviation services to military customers from around the world including Nato partners. We do not comment on operational matters relating to individual military customers. All aircraft landing at any aerodrome in the UK (including Glasgow Prestwick Airport) require to have Civil Aviation Authority permission to transit UK airspace or land in the UK.' Speaking to the Sunday Mail at the weekend Mr Yousaf said: 'The Scottish Government should be doing everything within its power to distance itself from Israel's illegal military actions, whether it's the assets we own, the limited foreign interventions we can make…Whatever we can do, we should be doing because this is the moral question of our time." American military aircraft are a regular sight above the skies of South Ayrshire, with US planes stopping at the airport 39 times since the start of June. The Pentagon is a powerful backer and supplier of Israel, which has been accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza. A verdict is not expected for many years. The country's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, launched a series of strikes on Iran on June 13 with US President Donald Trump confirming early on Sunday morning that his country had entered the war. Speaking in Holyrood on Wednesday External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson left the door open to the US military using Prestwick Airport for strikes on Iran – but insisted the base was not used in recent American bombing raids on the country. He refused to say whether the US Air Force would be stopped from using the state-owned Ayrshire airport, which is often used by allied militaries as a refuelling stop. Labour backbencher Carol Mochan asked whether the Scottish Government would rule out allowing America and Israel access while they carried out strikes on Iran. She said: 'Can he assure my constituents that sites like Prestwick Airport will not be used to facilitate attacks on Iran by the USA or indeed to support Israeli aircraft, given these efforts have no UN backing whatsoever? And can he be clear what US activity is currently happening at the Prestwick Airport site?' Mr Robertson said that he had 'not seen any information that would support any conclusion about involvement of Scottish facilities being used directly in terms of military attacks on Iran' saying that previous strikes did not involve the airport. American bombers were refuelled 'in the air' before bombing Iran and then returned back to the US without stopping at Prestwick, Mr Robertson said. He added: 'I understand the point she's making more generally about Prestwick Airport, if she has any information that would support the conclusion, the concern that she has, I would be grateful to hear that. 'We remain in dialogue with the UK Government – her party is in government in the UK, perhaps she would take the opportunity through her good offices to raise this with responsible UK ministers. In terms of devolved responsibilities, we will do everything that we can but she will appreciate that there are limits.' Later asked by Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr whether there were any formal arrangements with the US to allow military access to Prestwick Airport, Mr Robertson replied: 'I would have to check the status. 'I'm not aware of any memoranda of understanding but he will appreciate it's a matter of public record Prestwick Airport is used by the US Air Force, the Canadian Royal Airforce, a number of air forces from the Middle East.' Kenny MacAskill, leader of the Alba Party, said that the Scottish Government must ban American military planes from using the site. In a statement, he said: 'It's not Kneecap or Palestine Action who are the threat to our society and planet but those complicit in the genocide and war. We should be ceasing fuelling US war planes at Prestwick not deplatforming an Irish rap band at a music event.' A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'It is vital that the UK Government and the international community take action to de-escalate the situation in Gaza and the wider Middle East and work towards peace, without which there could be disastrous implications. 'Glasgow Prestwick Airport operates on a commercial basis and at arm's length from the Scottish Government. Operational decisions regarding the day-to-day running of the airport are a matter for its management.' An SNP spokesman said Mr Yousaf had nothing further to say.
The Herald Scotland
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Police probe into evidence to Salmond inquiry 'ongoing'
He said the investigation was looking into claims that a 'very, very senior civil servant - Mr James Hynd - gave a false statement on oath at the inquiry'. When the former First Minister died suddenly, aged 69, in North Macedonia in October last year it was not clear if and for how long the police investigation into the matter would continue. READ MORE: But today the force said its inquiries into the evidence provided to the Holyrood committee are still continuing. "We are investigating a complaint in relation to evidence provided to a Scottish Parliament committee. These inquiries are ongoing and we are unable to comment further," a spokesman for Police Scotland told The Herald. The Court of Session was told in August 2024 that detectives were probing evidence given to the inquiry in 2020 by Mr Hynd, who was the Scottish Government's head of cabinet, parliament and governance at the time. The parliamentary inquiry was examining the handling of sexual harassment complaints made against the former First Minister, who was later cleared of all of the charges against him in a separate criminal trial. The probe by a committee of MSPs - formally called the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints - concluded in March 2021 that the government investigation into Mr Salmond was 'seriously flawed". During his evidence to the parliamentary inquiry Mr Salmond alleged that there was a conspiracy among senior SNP figures, including his successor as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, to imprison him. Ms Sturgeon has strongly denied the claim. The Court of Session action was launched by Mr Salmond in November 2023 to seek "significant damages" and compensation for loss of earnings reportedly worth £3 million. The sum would be in addition to the £500,000 that Mr Salmond was awarded in legal costs after a judge said in 2019 that the government investigation into the allegations against him had been 'unlawful in respect that they were procedurally unfair" and also "tainted with apparent bias". Mr Salmond's lawyer Gordon Dangerfield told the Court of Session last August that the Police Scotland investigation into Mr Hynd was called Operation Broadcroft and was being headed by a senior detective. Mr Dangerfield told the court hearing at the time: 'I can advise that the ongoing Police Scotland investigation is named Operation Broadcroft. It is led by senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Graham Lannigan." Mr Hynd was responsible for drawing up the government's policy on the handling of complaints involving former and current ministers - the policy under which Mr Salmond was investigated. Mr Dangerfield asked last August for the civil case to be 'sisted' - a legal expression for it to be paused – while the police investigation was ongoing. Judge Lord Fairley refused the request after Scottish Government lawyer Lesley Shand KC said the case had already been sisted three times since it was first raised in November 2023. A spokesman for the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service told The Herald last night that the case has now been sisted until September 19 this year. The Scottish Government was asked for a response to the development that the Police Scotland Operation Broadcroft inquiry is still ongoing. 'It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on a live police investigation," a spokeswoman said. The Scottish Government does not comment on individual staffing matters.
