JD Vance accused of 'lying about Scotland' as US Vice President set for stay at luxury Ayrshire estate
JD Vance has been accused of "lying about Scotland" as the US Vice President prepares to arrive for a private holiday in Ayrshire.
The Republican is expected to land at Prestwick airport on Wednesday before transferring to the nearby Carnell Estates at Hurlford, which is known for offering its guests high-end shooting and fishing excursions.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie stayed at Carnell House, which dates from the 14th century, while filming World War Z in Glasgow in 2013.
Vance and his family were in Kent last week, where they stayed at Chevening House, the official residence of the foreign secretary, before spending time in the Cotswolds.
But his previous comments made about buffer zones outside abortion clinics in Scotland have not been forgotten by some Scots politicians.
Green MSP Gillian Mackay told the Record: "JD Vance has made a career of spreading misinformation and sowing mistrust in order to gain power and influence. The Vice President's absurd lies haven't just been about eating cats and dogs in Ohio - he has lied about Scotland."
The Republican politician was previously branded an "eejit" by Mackay following his claims over buffer zones around abortion clinics.
Vance used a major speech in Munich in February to wrongly suggest Scots could face prosecution for praying in their own homes. The Vice President attacked what he viewed as an erosion of free speech across Europe.
And he pointed to the recent introduction of buffer zones around Scottish abortion clinics as an example of the kind of crackdown he feared.
The law, passed by a majority of MSPs at the Scottish Parliament last year, prevents any public protests or vigils from taking place within 200m (656ft) of 30 clinics around the country.
But it does not prohibit anyone from praying within their own homes - a false claim repeatedly amplified by some social media accounts in recent months.
Mackay continued: 'Earlier this year, JD Vance made false claims on an international stage about Scotland's buffer zones law, which prevents harassment and intimidation of patients outside abortion clinics, a bill proudly passed by the Scottish Greens.
"Now, while his extremist government is attacking LGBTQ+ and women's rights, illegally arresting innocent civilians on the streets, arming Israel's genocide in Gaza and wrecking our climate, he thinks that he can peacefully run away from it all to enjoy a holiday in our country.
"Let's set this clear - the toxic misinformation of JD Vance is a threat to democracy and freedom around the world."
Vance said at his speech in February: Vance said: "This last October, the Scottish Government began distributing letters to citizens whose houses lay within so-called 'safe access zones', warning them that even private prayer, within their own home may amount to breaking the law.
"Naturally, the Government urged readers to report any fellow citizens suspected guilty of thought crime. In Britain, and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat."
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