First Minister John Swinney has faced criticism after attending last week’s state banquet in honour of President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle–an event turned down by the First Ministers of Northern Ireland and Wales.
Swinney defended his attendance, saying he attended the banquet to “protect and promote” Scotland amid concerns about US tariffs on Scottish whisky.
The First Minister’s attendance followed his landmark White House visit on 17 September, where he held talks on securing a whiskey tariff deal.
When speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Swinney acknowledged that whilst it is the UK government’s responsibility to negotiate trade deals with the US, he ensured to advocate for a “zero-for-zero arrangement” on whiskey tariffs at the state banquet.
Swinney received significant criticism over his decision to attend, including from his own party.
Chris Law, SNP MP for Dundee Central, stated in a recently deleted post on social media platform X that anyone attending the state banquet “is conceding that it’s acceptable to support genocide in Gaza.”
Swinney has not commented on Law’s remarks.
This comes after the UN’s Human Rights Council published that Israel has committed a genocide against Palestinians. Israel’s foreign ministry has rejected this claim.
Northern Ireland’s first minister Michelle O’Neill said she was taking a “principled stand” in response to the US role in the conflict in Gaza by boycotting the banquet.
Students at the University of Edinburgh expressed divided views on Swinney’s attendance at the state banquet.
One student stated: “I think it would have been a stronger statement if he refused the invite, like Wales and Northern Ireland did.”
Another student disagreed, explaining Swinney’s attendance as diplomatic:
“I think he attended with the interest of helping the Scottish economy, and he shouldn’t be scrutinised for making an effort to protect one of our leading industries.”
The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between diplomacy and principle in British politics.
“P80402401-Windsor Castle” by Gail Frederick is licensed under CC BY 2.0.