Alister Jack hits out at Scottish authorities ‘transgressions’ in abroad talks
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cottish authorities “transgressions” at conferences with overseas ministers resulted within the UK taking a more durable stance over worldwide discussions, Alister Jack advised MPs.
The Scottish Secretary insisted his UK authorities colleague, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, was “right” to take a firmer line.
Mr Cleverly final month wrote to UK officers, instructing them to take a “strengthened approach” to visits involving Scottish ministers and abroad governments, urging them to make sure Westminster representatives had been additionally current for any talks.
But the transfer angered Scottish External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson, who accused the Foreign Secretary of creating “misleading” statements as he referred to as for the steerage to be withdrawn.
With Scottish Affairs Committee chair Pete Wishart suggesting at a gathering on Monday that the rules “seemed to be provocative”, Mr Jack mentioned he “absolutely approved of the content of the letter”.
The new tips don’t, as claimed, hinder the Scottish authorities’s skills to interact abroad
Mr Jack claimed in conferences with overseas administrations, Scottish authorities represenatives had been “straying into territories of the constitution and foreign affairs” by speaking about issues reminiscent of Brexit and Scottish independence – noting these areas are underneath the management of Westminster.
“We don’t think that our high commissions, our embassies, our consulates should be used for that purpose,” Mr Jack insisted.
He advised MPs: “We believe the United Kingdom infrastructure should be used for the Scottish government to promote trade and culture and other things we have agreed, the devolved areas we have no problem.
“But once you go into the reserved areas and start talking to those, we take exception to it.”
The Scottish Secretary insisted to the committee: “The new guidelines do not as claimed hinder the Scottish government’s abilities to engage overseas.”
Hitting out at Mr Robertson, the Scottish Secretary nevertheless mentioned the steerage “didn’t go down very well with old Air Miles Angus for a very good reason – that is because he took offence at us calling him out visiting governments and talking to them about matters we know are reserved, the constitution and foreign affairs”.
Mr Jack mentioned an “indication” had been given to the Scottish authorities in November that such behaviour “needed to stop”.
But he advised the committee: “It was ignored, and it actually got worse.
“There were five of six other examples actually brought to light to the Secretary of State, of transgressions of what we thought was the right position, and that was when the letter went.
“I feel it was the right letter, I saw the letter, absolutely approved of the content of the letter… because I think it is wrong for us to facilitate using our embassies and high commissions for members of devolved administrations to then go and meet foreign government ministers and undermine our foreign policy which is what they were doing.”
Despite his feedback, Mr Jack insisted his evaluation of how the Scottish and UK governments had been working collectively was “a very positive one”.
Mr Wishart advised him: “I don’t think intergovernmental relations have ever been at such a low ebb between the UK and Scottish governments.
“They seem to be characterised by mistrust, never ending conflict, and a sense of diktat.”
Mr Jack advised him he had tried to make use of his position to set out “a clear position from the UK government, so the Scottish government know where we are, not to fudge any issues”.
He summed up the 2 administrations’ differing stances on Scottish independence by saying: “The Scottish government get up each day and go to work to destroy the United Kingdom, I get up and go to work each day to strengthen the United Kingdom.”
Mr Wishart requested if remarks reminiscent of that had been “helpful”, however the Scottish Secretary advised him: “I am honest, it is an honest position, they want to destroy the United Kingdom.
“I think if we come at this honestly and acknowledge they want to destroy the United Kingdom, they want to bring it to an end, they want to break it, whatever language you want to use.”