
Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt Fringe event featuring John Swinney
As the event went on, tensions rose between the protesters and other members of the crowd, with three police officers called in and the First Minister's security team forced to keep people back from berating Mr Swinney on the stage.
Police were called in to remove pro-Palestinian protesters from the event (Craig Paton/PA)
The protesters shouted at the First Minister to stop funding arms companies through the Government's commercial arm Scottish Enterprise, as well as to describe the ongoing crisis in Gaza as a 'genocide'.
The First Minister sat quietly during the protests.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

South Wales Argus
8 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes to stand down as MSP in 2026
The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch said she does not wish to 'miss any more of the precious early years of family life'. She is one of the SNP's most significant politicians, having finished second in the 2023 leadership election, which saw Humza Yousaf succeed Nicola Sturgeon as party leader. When John Swinney became First Minister last year, he appointed Ms Forbes to his cabinet as his deputy, also taking charge of the Government's economy portfolio. John Swinney appointed Ms Forbes to his cabinet (Jane Barlow/PA) In a statement shared on Monday, Ms Forbes said she had reflected over recess and decided not to run again in 2026. She said she had been 'privileged' to serve her various roles in government. Ms Forbes said: 'I remain wholly supportive of the First Minister just as when I backed him to be leader of the SNP and I look forward to campaigning for the SNP at the next election – to lead Scotland to independence. 'I was first elected in my mid-20s, dedicating my most formative adult years to public service. In that time, I presented multiple budgets, supported thousands of businesses and workers during Covid-19 and launched Scotland's most ambitious business start up network TechScaler. 'I now wish to step back from my public duties and focus on new opportunities to serve people. 'I have grown up in the public eye, getting married, having a baby and raising a young family. 'I have consistently put the public's needs ahead of my family's during that time. I am grateful to them for accommodating the heavy demands of being a political figure. 'Looking ahead to the future, I do not want to miss any more of the precious early years of family life – which can never be rewound.' The First Minister wrote back to Ms Forbes, saying he understood her decision and thanking her for her contributions. Mr Swinney said: ''You have made a huge contribution to public life in Scotland and have been instrumental in making progress on economic issues for my Government. 'You have much to be proud of in all of the work you have undertaken but I am especially heartened by the effect of your leadership on advancing support for the Gaelic language. 'We all wrestle with the inevitable conflicts between family and public life and I sympathise with the dilemmas you have faced. 'I wish you, Ali and your family well and much happiness in the years ahead.'

Rhyl Journal
8 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes to stand down as MSP in 2026
The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch said she does not wish to 'miss any more of the precious early years of family life'. She is one of the SNP's most significant politicians, having finished second in the 2023 leadership election, which saw Humza Yousaf succeed Nicola Sturgeon as party leader. When John Swinney became First Minister last year, he appointed Ms Forbes to his cabinet as his deputy, also taking charge of the Government's economy portfolio. In a statement shared on Monday, Ms Forbes said she had reflected over recess and decided not to run again in 2026. She said she had been 'privileged' to serve her various roles in government. Ms Forbes said: 'I remain wholly supportive of the First Minister just as when I backed him to be leader of the SNP and I look forward to campaigning for the SNP at the next election – to lead Scotland to independence. 'I was first elected in my mid-20s, dedicating my most formative adult years to public service. In that time, I presented multiple budgets, supported thousands of businesses and workers during Covid-19 and launched Scotland's most ambitious business start up network TechScaler. 'I now wish to step back from my public duties and focus on new opportunities to serve people. 'I have grown up in the public eye, getting married, having a baby and raising a young family. 'I have consistently put the public's needs ahead of my family's during that time. I am grateful to them for accommodating the heavy demands of being a political figure. 'Looking ahead to the future, I do not want to miss any more of the precious early years of family life – which can never be rewound.' The First Minister wrote back to Ms Forbes, saying he understood her decision and thanking her for her contributions. Mr Swinney said: ''You have made a huge contribution to public life in Scotland and have been instrumental in making progress on economic issues for my Government. 'You have much to be proud of in all of the work you have undertaken but I am especially heartened by the effect of your leadership on advancing support for the Gaelic language. 'We all wrestle with the inevitable conflicts between family and public life and I sympathise with the dilemmas you have faced. 'I wish you, Ali and your family well and much happiness in the years ahead.'


Daily Record
8 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Kates Forbes walking away from Holyrood shows independence is off the radar
Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says the exodus of SNP MSPs shows a lack of confidence that indyref2 will ever be delivered. Kate Forbes standing down from Holyrood when she is still in her 30s spells trouble for John Swinney and the SNP. If the First Minister's deputy believed Scotland was on the cusp of independence, would she quit Holyrood? Forbes is the latest senior Nationalist and Cabinet Secretary to desert Swinney at a time when is trying to shore up support for his ailing party. He too was intending to quit next year until the implosion of Humza Yousaf's leadership forced him to delay his retirement. Holyrood opinion polls look positive for the SNP next year, but their lead is precarious and built on sand. They have lost the ability to deliver in Government and the party is deeply split on the route to a second referendum. Nicola Sturgeon held the line for most of her leadership that indyref2 was around the corner, but this was a fiction. Westminster refused to indulge Sturgeon and Supreme Court judges said Holyrood did not have the power to organise a vote. The SNP under Swinney, as was the case when Yousaf was briefly in charge, also has a strategy for indyref2 that will not deliver independence. Forbes cited a desire to spend more time with her young family as the reason for her departure, but she knows the SNP is jaded and past its best. She will also be mindful of the bruising leadership contest she lost to Yousaf in 2023. Her opposition to same sex marriage was a key factor behind her defeat and her chances of winning a future contest stood at 45% at best. She had a decent chance of becoming the First Minister, but even in these circumstances she has chosen a life outside Holyrood. Nine months before the election, Labour and SNP are crawling towards the finishing line. The Nationalists have lost their drive and Scottish Labour are being dragged to the sea-bed by the drag anchor of the UK Government. Scottish politics is an unpopularity contest and Forbes has decided to walk away.