Scotland's First Minister John Swinney: 'It's In Scotland's Interests To Meet With The President'

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Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney spoke about his upcoming meeting with President Trump.

Transcript

00:00First off, tell us why we're here today.

00:03Clyde Gateway is a really important regeneration project

00:06that's made a huge impact on the lives and the communities

00:09of this part of the west of Scotland,

00:12particularly in the aftermath of industrial decline.

00:15The Government's announcing £3.5 million of new investment

00:18which is about supporting renewable district heating systems

00:23which are all designed to make sure that the area has access

00:26to lower cost fuel, sustainable fuel

00:29and that that can support the development process

00:32that's already underway here.

00:33So it's part of an integrated package of housing, employment

00:37and business developments which are central to creating new opportunities

00:42for this part of Glasgow.

00:44And moving on, later this month you will meet the US President, Donald Trump.

00:47What are you going to say to him?

00:49I've taken a decision that it's in Scotland's interest

00:52to meet with the President of the United States

00:54so that I can use every opportunity to protect

00:57and to promote the interests of the people of Scotland.

01:00There's obviously a range of issues that we can cover

01:03around the international situation

01:04that's causing such anxiety to people in Scotland

01:07around the situation in the Middle East

01:09and the situation in Ukraine

01:11and the domestic issues that are important to us

01:14around about the implications of, for example,

01:16trade and tariffs on some of our key sectors

01:19including Scotch whisky.

01:20So I think people in Scotland would expect their First Minister

01:23to meet with the President of the United States

01:25to put forward Scotland's position.

01:27Will you express your concerns to Donald Trump around Gaza?

01:30Obviously I've said that we're going to have the opportunity

01:33to discuss issues that are of concern to members of the public.

01:36I've made it absolutely crystal clear

01:38that I think the situation in Gaza is absolutely unconscionable

01:42that the suffering of the people of Gaza has got to come to an end.

01:47There must be a resumption of humanitarian aid.

01:49There must be an effective ceasefire

01:51and there must be a process of rebuilding Gaza

01:54as part of a two-state solution

01:57which is essential for the delivery of peace and stability in the Middle East

02:02and that's a position that I will articulate.

02:04I'm sure you've seen Donald Trump's comments around Aberdeen

02:06that says they should get rid of the windmills

02:08and get back into getting oil out of the North Sea.

02:12Do you agree with that?

02:13There's going to be different views expressed by different political leaders

02:16and I'm a supporter of renewable energy.

02:19I think it's important that we use the opportunities that we have in Scotland

02:23to capture the natural and sustainable energy that surrounds us

02:28and that is all around us

02:29and we should take those opportunities

02:31which the Scottish Government has done in a sustainable way.

02:34We've got to protect the planet, we've got to protect our communities

02:37and that's at the heart of the Government's agenda in Scotland.

02:40Donald Trump denied losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden.

02:44He was found liable in a civil court for sexual abuse.

02:47Does it make you uncomfortable that you're meeting with this type of man?

02:49The people of the United States have elected their President

02:53and that's their choice

02:55and he's coming to visit Scotland and I think, for me, my obligation

03:00and what members of the public would expect of their First Minister

03:03is for me to engage with the leader of the United States

03:06to protect and to promote the interests of Scotland.

03:09And moving on again, Sandy Peggy has been cleared of misconduct.

03:12Do you welcome this?

03:13The Unemployment Tribunal has taken its course within the...

03:18I'll have to say that again because that's not...

03:21Sorry.

03:22There is a process that's been undertaken in NHS Fife

03:26which has examined issues about the alleged conduct of Sandy Peggy.

03:32That's reached its conclusion.

03:34It's important that these processes are fair to all parties

03:37and that's what's been taken forward here

03:40and it's reached its conclusion.

03:42There is obviously an employment tribunal that has been brought by Sandy Peggy

03:45that is currently underway

03:47and it's not appropriate for me to comment on the live proceedings

03:51that are underway in that process.

03:53I'm not asking you to comment on the live proceedings with this question

03:56but does NHS Fife have your confidence and support?

03:59NHS Fife has my confidence and support.

04:01They've got important work to do to deliver

04:03on the healthcare needs of the people of Fife

04:05and that's what I expect them to focus on.

04:07And just on my last subject, will you meet with the Orange Order?

04:10The Government is meeting with representatives of the Orange Order today.

04:14Officials will take that forward and in due course the Community Safety Minister will meet with the Orange Order.

04:21In recent days members of the Orange Order have been subjected to acts of violence which are deplorable

04:28and they are unacceptable to whoever they affect within our society

04:34and these matters are currently being taken forward by Police Scotland.

04:37One last question actually.

04:38The Scottish Affairs Committee said the Scottish Government should have more powers for capital borrowing.

04:44Do you support this?

04:45I've obviously argued for the Scottish Parliament to have much broader powers, particularly financial powers,

04:51to make sure we can deal with some of the economic challenges and opportunities that we face.

04:55So I would welcome the strengthening of the powers of the Scottish Parliament in any respect.

04:59I am of course a supporter of Scottish independence.

05:02I believe the Scottish Parliament should have the full range of independent powers

05:06that would allow us to take the necessary decisions to strengthen the economy

05:10and improve opportunities and hope for our people.

05:13And that's an issue that I'll put to the people in 2026.

05:16Pastor Minister, thank you very much. Cheers.

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