FIRST Minister Humza Yousaf has said the UK Government’s attempts to limit Scottish diplomacy overseas “undermine devolution”.
It comes after Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said all meetings between SNP ministers and international governments must be organised through the UK and attended by its own officials.
Former chief Brexit negotiator and Tory peer Lord Frost then called on the minister to go further by not permitting the Scottish Government to use British Embassies abroad or receive diplomatic status.
Now, Humza Yousaf has said the determination by the UK Government to thwart international engagement by Scottish Government ministers undermines the devolution settlement.
🧵Taken alongside their refusal to grant an Internal Market Act exemption & use of Section 35, the UK Govt's recent attempt to limit our international engagement is a further sign of their determination to undermine devolution. We, of course, won't stop our external engagement.
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) April 16, 2023
He tweeted: “Taken alongside their refusal to grant an Internal Market Act exemption & use of Section 35, the UK Govt's recent attempt to limit our international engagement is a further sign of their determination to undermine devolution. We, of course, won't stop our external engagement.
“Our international engagement has been a huge success. It helps us promote Scottish food & drink, industry & trade, Scotland's tourism, our culture and art, as well as our brilliant HE/FE sectors. It also inspires others to follow where we lead, such as on loss & damages.
“Our International Development work has transformed lives. Our people-to-people development work in Malawi in particular has been hailed by the President of Malawi, as well as international NGOs. We have been commended as leaders for our efforts to tackle the Climate Emergency.
“UK Govt's clumsy attempts to curtail this work sends all the wrong signals to Scottish business, culture & ID sector. They value external engagement we do, often in good partnership with UK Embassies. That is why we will, proudly, continue representing Scottish interests abroad.”
It comes as various members of the Scottish and UK Governments attended the annual Tartan Week celebration in New York – including Douglas Ross.
