John Swinney's Foreign Policy Ambitions Clash with Domestic Realities
First Minister John Swinney has positioned himself as a would-be international statesman, recently declaring he may consider banning US military aircraft from using Prestwick Airport if they are involved in strikes against Iran. This pronouncement comes despite foreign policy being a reserved matter for the UK Government, highlighting the Scottish National Party's persistent overreach into areas beyond its jurisdiction.
The Prestwick Airport Controversy
In solemn tones, Mr Swinney stated his government is "seeking clarity from the UK Government about the purpose of American flights that are coming in and out of Prestwick, but we don't have the ability to scrutinise those flights." When pressed on whether he would forbid American military aircraft proven to be participating in the Iran conflict, Swinney responded: "I will consider that based on the evidence that's provided to me."
This intervention follows the Scottish Government's controversial £1 purchase of Prestwick Airport in 2013, when then-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon declared it a "viable enterprise" - only for taxpayers to subsequently prop it up with over £40 million in funding.
A Pattern of International Posturing
The SNP's foreign policy ambitions extend beyond airport disputes. The party has established costly overseas "embassies" and maintains an "external affairs" portfolio, currently held by Angus Robertson, despite constitutional limitations. Last year, when the US conducted strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, Swinney demanded "de-escalation" - a call that went entirely unheeded.
This international posturing creates a convenient distraction from domestic failures. As one commentator noted, "It's more appealing to offer an opinion on the Middle East than explain why public services in Scotland have been run into the ground." The reverse Midas touch that has plagued SNP domestic policy appears equally evident in their foreign interventions.
Domestic Failures Demand Attention
While Swinney opines on international affairs, serious healthcare scandals unfold in Scottish hospitals. The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow has become emblematic of systemic failures, with five rooms on a cancer ward closed in the past six months due to water and mould concerns. Health board officials have admitted dirty water probably caused serious infections in young cancer patients, resulting in two child deaths and at least 84 illnesses.
For six years, officials denied any link between the hospital's contaminated water system and patient infections. When bereaved families sought accountability, Swinney's response proved inadequate. Although he later claimed to have "expressed sincere sorrow and regret," some relatives insist neither he nor Health Secretary Neil Gray offered a proper apology during their meeting.
Political Calculations Over Human Decency
The First Minister's selective clarity reveals political calculations. He admitted: "I obviously not communicated that effectively so I want to be crystal clear today: I am deeply sorry for the issues they have experienced at the QEUH and all that families have gone through." Yet this belated apology followed initial evasion, suggesting political risk assessment influenced his response.
As one observer noted, "Crystal clarity seems to come easily to Mr Swinney when it suits him. For example, when he's opining about foreign affairs... But when it's politically riskier terrain, and relates directly to his government's appalling track record, he has little to say."
The Broader Context of Failure
The SNP's international posturing occurs against a backdrop of domestic policy failures. From healthcare scandals to economic challenges, the government faces mounting criticism. Swinney's meeting with Donald Trump in July 2023, where he urged tariff relief for Scotland's whisky industry, proved equally ineffective - the industry continues to labor under American levies.
Political analysts suggest foreign policy pronouncements serve as useful distractions from domestic shortcomings. As one commentator observed, "Punditry on events in other countries - and that's what Mr Swinney's ramblings are given that he's nowhere near the top table when it comes to the big decisions - is a useful distraction from failure at home."
A Question of Priorities
The fundamental question remains: should Scotland's First Minister focus on ensuring hospital safety or grandstanding on international conflicts beyond his jurisdiction? With an election approaching, political calculations inevitably influence these decisions. However, as critics note, "politics shouldn't come into the equation ahead of basic human decency."
There is much for which the First Minister and his colleagues should apologize, but saying sorry to families who lost loved ones at QEUH should have been paramount. Instead, Swinney positions himself as a bargain-basement statesman while domestic crises demand attention. As international tensions escalate in the Middle East, the last thing needed is intervention from a blundering administration with a proven track record of failure both at home and abroad.
