THE First Minister said he “expects a direct relationship” with the UK Prime Minister when quizzed about working with Sue Gray in her envoy for the regions and nations role.
Appearing on BBC Newsnight on Friday John Swinney said he “won't be dealing through envoys” when asked by journalist Katie Razzall whether he would work with Gray in her new government position.
Gray had been forced to resign as Keir Starmer's chief of staff last week saying she “risked becoming a distraction” amid infighting inside the Labour-run Downing Street.
She was then appointed as nations and regions envoy with the newly-created role sparking a backlash across the political divide, with both SNP and Tory politicians questioning the position.
READ MORE: Why you should pay for a subscription in the digital news era
Now the leader of the SNP, Swinney, said his officials will work with any UK Government representative but he expects to speak with Starmer directly.
“I don’t know what the role is, but what I expect as First Minister of Scotland is that I will have a direct relationship with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,” he said.
“So, that’s the channel of communication I will have. I won't be dealing through envoys.
“I will have a direct relationship with the Prime Minister, that’s what the public in Scotland would expect the First Minister to have and that is what I expect to have.”
When asked by Razzall to clarify that he doesn’t “intend to go through” Gray, Swinney reiterated that he expects a direct relationship with Starmer and that’s the approach he will take.
He said: “My officials will obviously work with any representatives of the United Kingdom Government, but from my part as First Minister of Scotland I expect to have a direct relationship with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and that’s the approach I will take.”
Last week when Gray’s role was announced Chris Law, the SNP MP for Dundee Central and the party’s international trade spokesperson at Westminster, questioned the appointment.
He said: “If there ever was a colonial mindset then this is it!”
Law went on to add: “We already have Secretaries of State and Ministers of State for each of the nations.
“Envoy is a person deputed by a government to negotiate [a] treaty, or transact business, with a foreign government.”
It was announced yesterday that Gray will not be attending the inaugural meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in Edinburgh on Saturday.
It has been widely reported that she is “taking a break” despite being expected to attend.
Downing Street told The National it would not comment on staffing at the event.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel