First Minister defends record on business after Eric Trump comments
The US president-elect's son claimed the Scottish Government had made it "virtually impossible" to do business in the country
The First Minister is hitting back at claims from Donald Trump’s son that the Scottish Government has made it “virtually impossible” to do business in the country.
In an interview with the PA news agency on Tuesday, Eric Trump criticised the Scottish Government's record on business, saying too much red tape is putting off international investors.
Speaking to MFR News, while visiting Wardie Primary School in Edinburgh on Wednesday to promote the Read, Write, Count with the First Minister initiative, John Swinney said: “Scotland’s a country that is open and ready for investment.
“We are, of course, the most successful part of the United Kingdom for foreign direct investment other than London and the South East, and we have been for the last 10 years.
“One of my priorities as First Minister, one of the priorities that I’ve asked the deputy First Minister Kate Forbes to take forward, is to make sure that we put in place all the steps and measures and mechanisms to make sure that we are investment ready…and we are”
Eric Trump also said his father would be visiting Scotland next year for the opening of a new golf course his company has developed.
Asked if he would seek to meet the US president, Mr Swinney said he would consider any meeting at the time.
He reiterated concerns about potential tariffs on exports of single malt Scotch whisky to the US under the incoming Trump administration.
Trump family's "love for Scotland" keeps them investing
On Tuesday, Eric Trump suggested it is only his family's "love" for Scotland that keeps them investing.
The Trump family owns two golf courses in Scotland and has roots in the Isle of Lewis on the Outer Hebrides, where Donald Trump's mother once lived.
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie believes any potential visit from the US president-elect should be met with mass protests, similar to those that greeted Mr Trump on a visit to Turnberry during his first term as president in 2018.
Trump represents "toxic values"
Mr Harvie told MFR News: “I’ve no doubt that if the threat of a Trump visit to Scotland does materialise he’ll be met with very, very strong protest in the streets, at the golf courses, or wherever else he intends to go.
“He represents a set of toxic values: misogyny, racism, climate denial, conspiracy theories.
“In civil society in the US there are people who share our values, who share a commitment to democracy, to human rights, to climate action and so much more. We should be forging a deeper relationship with those people – not with Donald Trump and his family”