The First Minister believes a ‘window of opportunity’ has now opened up on Scotch whisky tariffs

John Swinney’ s unlikely friendship with Donald Trump was forged over a dinner of langoustine and beef at the President’s golf club in Balmedie. The pair sat next to each other and the SNP leader used the opportunity to charm and flatter the leader of the free world.

The US President suggested a country ‘can’t go through that too much’ when asked about a second independence referendum.

There have been voices in the SNP for some time saying that an independence vote should be a rubber stamp on the "settled will" of the people of Scotland. Previously, when pressed on what demonstrable support looks like, Swinney has cited the 1997 referendum on devolution. In that vote, 74% of Scots wanted a Scottish parliament.

John Swinney says funding for a golf tournament at Donald Trump’s Aberdeenshire course was not an attempt to “butter up” the US president. The Scottish Government announced on Saturday that £180,000 of public money would be spent to bring the Nexo Championship to Scotland next month.

Scottish Government funding for a golf tournament at Donald Trump’s Aberdeenshire course was not an attempt to “butter up” the US president, John Swinney has said. The Government announced on Saturday that £180,

John Swinney has lifted his lid on his route to independence after the focus has remained firmly on making the case for separation.

The First Minister has responded to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's announcement that The UK will recognise the state of Palestine “in September” unless Israel takes “substantive steps” to end the “appalling situation in Gaza".