Stephen Flynn jokes he'll be ‘washing hair' when Donald Trump visits UK
The Scottish National Party's (SNP) Westminster leader, who is bald, told Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that he will find "any excuse possible" to avoid meeting the US president on his visit to Scotland.
While insisting it was 'absolutely right' that First Minister John Swinney meets Mr Trump, Mr Flynn quipped that he'd be 'looking after his own toddlers' while the Republican is in the country.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
Trump hits ‘too late' Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve keeps interest rates steady despite two board dissenters
President Donald Trump on Wednesday continued his attacks on Federal Reserve Board of Governors chair Jerome Powell as the American central bank again rebuffed his demand for lower interest rates, keeping them steady for at least another month. Speaking in the Roosevelt Room during a bill signing ceremony, the president hit out at Powell, who he has blamed for decisions made by the bank's powerful Open Markets Committee, using the derisive nickname he assigned him when he began to demand lower rates months earlier. 'We should be the lowest interest rate. And we're not. We're ... number 38 because of the Fed. It's all because of the Fed. He's done a bad job. Now. He's got a meeting today, but I call him too late. You know, he's always too late, even if he does it today, probably won't. I hear they're going to do it in September, not today,' Trump said. In a statement, the bank justified the decision to keep rates steady by noting that while employment and economic growth remain steady after Trump's first half-year in office, the rate of inflation remains "somewhat elevated." Powell offered some further explanation during remarks announcing the decision in which he stressed that Trump's "reciprocal tariffs" have led to some increased inflation around goods, the long-term economic effects of tariffs remain to be seen. The Fed's decision to keep interest rates stagnant comes the same day that the Bureau of Economic Analysis released its report showing that GDP grew by 3 percent in the last economic quarter between April and June. This came after the previous quarter where GDP actually shrank, which Trump blamed on his predecessor Joe Biden. The decision comes after weeks of bullying and browbeating of Powell by Trump and his allies, including top officials at the Office of Management and Budget and the Federal Housing Finance Administration, who have seized on long-running renovations at the Fed's headquarters as a possible pretext under which Trump would fire Powell, who he appointed to lead the Fed during his first term.
The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
White House claims that the uproar over the Epstein files has slowed
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice White House officials say much of the public criticism over the administration's handling of the Epstein Files is slowing down, and only a 'very small segment' of President Donald Trump's base remains disgruntled over it. Weeks after the president attempted to divert attention away from the Epstein Files and the Department of Justice and FBI released a memo shutting down any long-held conspiracy theories about Jeffrey Epstein, the White House is now thinking about its next step in the saga. Officials and Trump's top allies outside of the administration had been fielding angry phone calls from supporters, but that has mostly ceased now, according to the Washington Post 'I wouldn't say it's blown over,' an unnamed senior White House official told the Post on Wednesday. 'It's one of those things where, with a certain segment of the base, a very small segment of the base, it's never going to die down, no matter what.' However, a new poll by by The Economist and YouGov this month suggests that 46 percent of Americans believe Trump 'was involved in crimes allegedly committed' by Epstein, compared to 32 percent who say they don't think the president was criminally linked to Epstein and 23 percent who said they're not sure. open image in gallery President Donald Trump's supporters appear to be moving on from the Epstein Files fallout, a White House official said ( Getty Images ) Initially, after the administration did a 180° from promising to release undisclosed information about Epstein, a convicted sex offender who was accused of trafficking women and girls in a decades-long scheme, Trump's loyal MAGA base was outraged. Even some of the more prominent MAGA supporters, who had long bolstered conspiracy theories about Epstein, were irritated with the administration and called for Trump to release the files. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, ultra-conservative pundit Steve Bannon, influencer Charlie Kirk, and more had initially expressed dissatisfaction with the administration's quick claim that no 'client list' existed and Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while in federal jail. But an unnamed Trump ally told the Post that the Wall Street Journal article claiming Trump sent a 'bawdy' 50th birthday letter to Epstein actually helped the situation by taming supporters' outrage because it prompted Trump to take action. After the article reignited concerns about Trump's relationship with Epstein, Trump denied ever sending the birthday card and sued the Journal for $10 billion. He also directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to request grand jury testimony from the government's investigation into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also made a public show by going to Florida, where Maxwell is serving a 20-year-to-life sentence for sex trafficking, to interview her about others who may have been involved in Epstein's crimes. The unnamed Trump ally said it was 'enough of a bone to stop people from freaking out.' The Independent has asked the White House for comment. Trump has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. Being named in the files does not suggest any wrongdoing and Trump has not been accused, or charged with any crime related to the Epstein case. The White House also dubbed the WSJ report 'fake news.' Even some of those who initially were angry at the administration appear to have backed Trump after the Journal article. Kirk, who initially called for Trump to release the files, quickly backed the president, claiming he did not believe the Journal's report was genuine. open image in gallery Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein ( US District Court for the Southern District of New York ) Bannon, who also called for an investigation into the files, rallied behind Trump for 'striking back' against the Journal. The White House appears cognizant that the drama around the Epstein Files has not disappeared completely – and that the small number of outraged supporters still matters. Recent polling from the Post and Quinnipiac University shows that a majority of Americans believe the president should release the Epstein Files. Among those who self-identified MAGA Republicans, 82 percent said Trump should release the files. 'We're not just sitting on our hands,' the unnamed senior White House official told the Post. 'There are things happening that are not public. Just because they're not public doesn't mean things aren't happening.'
The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
UK Government urged to reconsider decision to cut cash for peace fund
The UK Government has been urged to reconsider its decision to cut its backing for a significant Irish peace fund. The Government confirmed it had decided not to continue with the £1 million contribution to the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) in 2024-25, citing a 'very challenging fiscal position'. The IFI was originally set up by the UK and Irish governments as an independent international organisation in 1986. It delivers a range of peace and reconciliation initiatives across Northern Ireland and Irish border counties, including supporting communities to work towards removal of the remaining peace walls. Sinn Fein North Belfast MP John Finucane said he is concerned about the move, and said he will raise it directly with Secretary of State Hilary Benn. 'It is extremely concerning that the British Government is to cut funding for IFI,' he said. 'IFI was established to promote peace, reconciliation and a better future for all communities across Ireland. 'Peace is hard-won and hard-fought. It can never be taken for granted, and crucial funds like this must continue to be supported. 'The British Government should be increasing funding in light of the withdrawal of US support, not imposing further hardship. 'I will be writing to British Secretary of State Hilary Benn, calling for his Government to reverse this decision and ensure IFI can continue its vital grassroots-led programmes.' Responding, a UK Government spokesperson said: 'This Government inherited a very challenging fiscal position, and needed to take difficult but necessary decisions to place the public finances on a sustainable footing. 'As a result, the Government has decided not to continue with the £1 million contribution to the International Fund for Ireland in 2024-25. 'The Government remains supportive of the IFI's aims of promoting peace and reconciliation.'
