Scottish Greens slam John Swinney for call with Donald Trump

The Scottish Greens have criticised the first minister for a recent phone call between him and Donald Trump.

John Swinney spoke to the president-elect earlier this week for the first time since the US election, in a discussion described as “positive”.

The pair spoke about social, economic and cultural ties between Scotland and America.

Raising the matter in FMQs, Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater questioned the benefits of such conversations, accusing Trump of “climate-destroying, racist and conspiracy theory-based politics”.

She added: “Here in Scotland we proudly welcome refugees and immigrants as ‘new Scots.’ We value democracy, our environment, and the rule of law.

“First minister, how can it be in Scotland’s interests to court the favours of someone like Donald Trump?”

The first minister said that while there are differences between him and Trump, it was his duty to represent Scotland on the global stage.

He said: “There will, of course, I recognise, be political differences from one government to another. But I also have a duty to promote and protect the interests of Scotland. President Trump and I had an introductory call at his request.”

Slater later accused the Scottish Conservatives of the “Trumpification” of politics in Scotland, after a motion brought by the party yesterday criticised the Scottish Government’s planned provision of free bus travel to asylum seekers.

The party called for that money to instead by used to mitigate the Labour government’s winter fuel payment cut.

Slater said: “All week the Tories have been working to demonise people seeking asylum, and to pit one group of vulnerable people against another. It is shameful.”

Swinney said the vote on Wednesday was a matter of “regret” and broke decades-long consensus in Scottish politics.