Whether President Donald Trump will be restored to the membership of GlobalScot after reversing the 10% tariffs on Scotch whisky, First Minister, John Swinney, would not say. He said he welcomed the announcement on tariffs, but that the membership question is determined on “an ongoing basis”.
Mr Swinney was speaking in Edinburgh Central where he was campaigning with Cabinet Minister, Angus Robertson, and a group of activists, including a group of members of Yes Scotland International.
President Trump was previously stripped of his Global Scot status in 2015, after calling for a complete ban on Muslims entering the US, but Mr Swinney would not be drawn on whether it should be reinstated after the President’s most recent positive pronouncement.
On their website Global Scot explains who their members are: “GlobalScots are passionate individuals, entrepreneurs and business leaders, who are dedicated to supporting Scotland’s ambitions internationally.
”They are: Inspirational individuals who can make a significant difference to Scotland’s global competitiveness.
“Based anywhere in the world but have a connection to Scotland.
“Willing to share their knowledge, insights and networks with ambitious Scottish businesses and organisations.”
GlobalScot was established under the banner of economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise, more than quarter of a century ago to form a business network of people with a link to Scotland, aiming to assist Scottish companies compete on the international stage.
Douglas Alexander
As to Douglas Alexander, the Scottish Secretary of State who roundly criticised him on social media on Friday for claiming ownership of the victory over whisky tariffs which the US President is to bring to an end, Mr Swinney said: “I think Douglas Alexander’s conduct yesterday was totally inappropriate. He’s known me for 40 years.
“He knows that what he was saying about me is just not the case, and I don’t behave that way. I think there’s our obligation on political leaders to behave responsibly. I think the Prime Minister needs to get his own house in order and tell his Secretary of State for Scotland how to behave.”
Douglas Alexander coordinated the 2001 general election campaign for Labour when they won handsomely, and he was appointed co-chair of Labour ahead of the Scottish election.
Speaking earlier, Mr Swinney said that he had a pleasant conversation with Mr Alexander on Thursday night at a dinner.
Mr Swinney said: “Then, later on that night, he was absolutely using language I think is unworthy of a Secretary of State for Scotland.
“I think we’ll maybe let the election campaign pass, let him relax a little bit, because he’s obviously a bit agitated, and we’ll see where things stand.
“He, of course, might be reshuffled out of existence by the weekend.”
Poll
The Herald reports that the latest Stonehaven MRP poll shows SNP on course to win 66 seats – which is one more than required for a majority. The Scottish Greens will according to the predictions, win 14 seats, and Reform 21 seats. This will push Scottish Labour into third place with 13 seats and Scottish Liberal Democrats eight. But the shock poll shows that Scottish Conservatives would return seven MSPs a vast reduction from the 31 elected representatives who took their seats in 2021. Stonehaven accurately predicted the result of the 2024 General Election.
Edinburgh Central candidates
- Independent – Bonnie Prince, Bob
- Independent – Creighton, Chris
- Scottish Labour Party – Dalgleish, James William
- Scottish Liberal Democrats – Dundas, Charles
- Scottish Libertarian Party – Laird, Tam
- Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party – Mowat, Jo
- Alliance to Liberate Scotland – Murray, Craig John
- Reform UK – Neill, Gary
- Independent – Pownall, Robert Neil
- Scottish National Party (SNP) – Robertson, Angus
- Scottish Green Party – Slater, Lorna Jane
