logo
Stephen Flynn: Independent Scotland would cut ties with Israel

Stephen Flynn: Independent Scotland would cut ties with Israel

The Scottish Government, under the leadership of both Humza Yousaf and John Swinney, has been outspoken on the conflict, consistently calling for a ceasefire and for humanitarian aid to be able to enter Gaza.
The Aberdeen South MP also said the UK Government should do something to catch the Israeli government's attention as it looks to ramp up pressure.
Asked if an independent Scotland would close its embassies in Israel and break off relations with the country, Mr Flynn said it would.
'I've gone into the House of Commons on God knows how many occasions now and listened to David Lammy and Hamish Falconer, the Middle East minister, and they've told us how 'we're going to do this, or we're going to do that, and this is the latest thing we're going to do'.
'And then he stands up and says, 'but they're ignoring us'.
'Well, if they're ignoring you, then do something that captures their attention.'
Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble and tens of thousands are dead since the war began (Image: PA) Mr Flynn's comments come as the Foreign Secretary announced the UK would be sanctioning two Israeli ministers.
Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's security minister and finance minister respectively, have been 'inciting violence against Palestinian people for months and months and months, they have been encouraging egregious abuses of human rights', David Lammy said.
Both will be subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.
READ MORE:
The Westminster SNP leader went on to say that it would not be 'wise' for his party's MPs to visit Israel, claiming they were likely to be turned away from the country, as happened with Labour MPs earlier this year, owing to the party's outspoken opposition to the conduct of the war in Gaza.
'I'd be amazed if any of them did, because they're not daft, and they probably know that they would get turned around and stuck on a plane right back out Israel,' he said.
'Look, I'm deeply, deeply upset and angry about what's happened in Gaza, and what continues to happen in Gaza, and the fact that the UK position has been so weak for far too long in respect of this.
'I think it's important that you convey your views to people who are rational actors.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Swinney to chair youth violence summit after stabbings and classroom violence
Swinney to chair youth violence summit after stabbings and classroom violence

STV News

time26 minutes ago

  • STV News

Swinney to chair youth violence summit after stabbings and classroom violence

John Swinney is set to chair a summit on youth violence as he attempts to clamp down on knife crime among young people. The cross-party meeting follows the deaths of two teenagers in Scotland this year from separate stabbings. It also comes as teachers report rising levels of classroom violence and misogynistic behaviour among pupils. Thursday's summit will hear from the justice and education secretaries, ministers for children and for victims, along with cross-party MSPs, youth workers and those delivering violence reduction in Scotland. It follows discussions led by Mr Swinney to hear young people's and families' experiences and ideas on possible solutions, and will focus on education and community engagement with young people and possible strategies preventing them from turning to anti-social behaviour or carrying a weapon. Angela Constance, the Justice Secretary, has admitted that 'more needs to be done' to clamp down on violence. Earlier this month, the Scottish Government pledged that funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit will rise by 7% to £1.217 million, which reversed earlier plans to cut its budget. Despite several high-profile recent murders among teenagers, Police Scotland said that serious assaults by those aged 11 to 18 fell by 27% between 2019/20 and 2024/25, from 428 to 313. Ahead of the meeting, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton called for greater investment in youth work. Mr Cole-Hamilton, who was a youth worker before becoming an MSP, accused the SNP of presiding over the 'quiet death' of youth work. He said: 'For the best part of 20 years, I was a youth worker, helping some of the most disengaged young people get their lives back on track. 'That experience taught me that no child is inherently bad. Most of the time, they are just in need of some direction, a need that has only been fuelled by the isolating impact of lockdown. 'That's where youth work comes in: it provides young people with the direction they need and gives them a positive adult role model who is neither a teacher nor a parent. 'It teaches teenagers to come out of their comfort zone, helps them rebuild their sense of self-worth and fosters a whole host of key life skills. 'Since the pandemic, however, the SNP have presided over the quiet death of youth work. Budgets have been squeezed, services have struggled to survive, just when we need them the most. 'While acts of violence require a strong response, punishing predominantly law-abiding young people cannot be our broader solution. We need youth work to pre-empt and prevent those acts of violence, to properly engage young people in society and lay the foundations for them to succeed in life.' The Scottish Government has been approached for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

Anglesey and Celtic freeports job hopes 'downgraded'
Anglesey and Celtic freeports job hopes 'downgraded'

Western Telegraph

time34 minutes ago

  • Western Telegraph

Anglesey and Celtic freeports job hopes 'downgraded'

Plaid Cymru's Luke Fletcher criticised the pace of change at the Anglesey freeport as well as the Celtic freeport based around Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire. Mr Fletcher said people were promised transformative economic benefits, tens of thousands of jobs, billions in investment and a green revolution – "but years on, we are still waiting". "That's a fact, that's a reality," the shadow economy secretary warned. "Now, if freeports are meant to be a cornerstone of our economic strategy, then we need to actually understand exactly what we're getting and, right now, there's a huge lack of clarity and credibility." Freeports, originally a Conservative UK Government policy, offer tax breaks in an effort to boost business. Mr Fletcher said an initial promise of 20,000 jobs by 2030 was revised down to 17,000 on the Welsh Government's website, a decrease of 15 per cent. He added that the Celtic freeport was downgraded by 31per cent from a promise of 16,000 jobs to nearer 11,000 today. "All we've seen from the Celtic freeport so far are strategies, frameworks and meetings: no clear delivery, no major employment, no visible change," he said. Rebecca Evans, Wales' economy secretary, told Senedd members it remains early days with "an awful lot" of work going on behind the scenes and the freeports only open for business for a matter of months. Samuel Kurtz, the Conservatives' shadow secretary, welcomed the Celtic and Anglesey freeports but raised concerns about sites in England such as Teesside being further along. He also hailed "significant" progress at Wales' two investment zones – based on advanced manufacturing in Wrexham and Flintshire, and semiconductors in Newport and Cardiff. In her statement, Ms Evans said the Welsh Government has agreed full business cases for both freeports and the final agreement with UK ministers was close to completion.

Mixed Reaction to UK Government Spending Review
Mixed Reaction to UK Government Spending Review

Business News Wales

time35 minutes ago

  • Business News Wales

Mixed Reaction to UK Government Spending Review

Business leaders have given a mixed reaction to the UK Government Spending Review, which included Welsh rail investment worth at least £445 million . The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said it was 'not the business-focused day' small businesses had hoped for, whilst calling on the Welsh Government to use local growth funding announced in the Spending Review to boost the business support system. The CBI described the Spending Review as a 'downpayment on hardwiring the growth mission into government priorities', adding that the 'litmus test now will be following through on delivery in partnership with industry at pace'. The UK Government said the rail investment announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves would invest in both North and South Wales, adding that it would fix level crossings, build new stations, and upgrade existing lines. It said the rail upgrades would specifically link centres of advanced manufacturing excellence in North Wales and improve connections between Cardiff and Bristol. Monmouthshire County Council said it was 'delighted' with the rail announcement, adding that its communities 'have continued to live with the impacts of congestion on the M4 with no viable public transport alternatives'. It said the upgrades to the South Wales Mainline will increase train service frequency and the provision of five new railway stations – including Magor Walkway, which it said was a testament to the tireless work of the MAGOR group (Magor Action Group on Rail). Mary Ann Brocklesby, leader of Monmouthshire County Council, said: 'This is a hugely welcome investment that recognises the urgent need to upgrade our transport network here in Wales. Magor Walkway Station is a project with strong community backing from local councillors, residents, and campaign groups. I'll continue working with all partners to make sure Monmouthshire sees the benefit of this long-overdue rail project.' The Welsh Government will receive the largest settlement in real terms since devolution in 1999, the UK Government said, with an average settlement of £22.4 billion per year. Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: 'This UK Government is investing in Wales' future and driving economic growth across the country. 'We promised we would deal with the historical under-investment in Wales' rail network and the funding announced today in this Spending Review shows we are delivering on that pledge. 'Along with a record financial settlement for Welsh Government to improve public services, £118 million more to help keep coal tips safe and investment in growing industries like aerospace, we are backing Wales' potential and delivering for working people.' The Chancellor also announced that the British Business Bank's total financial capacity will be increased to £25.6 billion, which will enable a two-thirds increase in investments to around £2.5 billion each year. The British Business Bank said this investment is expected to crowd in tens of billions of pounds of private capital. Louis Taylor, CEO, British Business Bank, said: 'We welcome today's announcement by the Government, which is a strong endorsement of the British Business Bank's 10-year track record, market access and capabilities, including our position as the largest investor in UK venture and venture growth capital funds and the most active late-stage investor in UK life sciences and deeptech. 'To deliver the Government's growth mission it is critical that our most promising entrepreneurs can access the finance they need to grow their businesses, no matter what their background or where they are located.' Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair of the FSB, said: 'Small businesses will be wondering when they will feel the benefits of today's Spending Review. It was not the business-focused day they had hoped for. 'As spending allocations were announced, decisions over how that money would support small businesses were not included. Increased Statutory Sick Pay came without help for small businesses to afford it; extra money for housing and defence came without a commitment to include small firms in the supply chain; new energy efficiency funding for households came without equivalent help for small business premises. 'The one major bright spot for small firms today was the significant increase in resources to the British Business Bank, which FSB campaigned for in advance of today's statement and which we welcome. This should see far more finance flowing to local businesses up and down the country. 'With headline departmental funding allocated, the challenge now passes to each and every government department to be strategic with their spending over the next three years – using every taxpayer pound to get the most value, stimulate the economy, and spread jobs and growth. SMEs should get a far greater share of public contracts, and big businesses which treat their smaller suppliers poorly should be banned from winning them. 'Small business confidence is already languishing at levels comparable to the energy bills crisis, while job numbers in small businesses are falling fast, so bold, concerted action is needed. You can't grow the economy and tax revenues without growing small businesses. 'Small firms were not the focus today, but the second half of 2025 now becomes a crunch period for SME-focused growth reforms. Ministers must buckle down on this over the summer and through to the autumn, putting small businesses at the heart of the Industrial, Trade and Small Business Strategies. This includes addressing business rates, Employment Allowance expansion and Statutory Sick Pay in the autumn Budget, and proper legislative reform in the King's Speech. 'The benefits will only come if the Government takes these challenges seriously through to the autumn.' John Hurst, FSB Wales Chair, said: 'Small businesses in Wales continue to face relentless pressure from rising employment costs, ongoing changes to employment legislation, and sustained high energy bills. 'The Welsh Government must now actively back our small businesses by using the local growth funding announced in the Spending Review to boost our business support system, fostering a dynamic ecosystem that encourages entrepreneurship and empowers Welsh business owners to innovate, invest, and grow.' Russell Greenslade, Director, CBI, Wales, said: 'Today's Spending Review signals a downpayment on hardwiring the growth mission into government priorities. Against a challenging backdrop, the choice to prioritise investment in clean energy, R&D, as well as delivering a much-needed boost to transport in Wales, and infrastructure, is the smart play that will raise the long-term ceiling of the economy. The litmus test now will be following through on delivery in partnership with industry at pace. That must be underpinned by a comprehensive strategy for driving investment in adult skills and addressing high energy costs, which were missing from today's announcement. 'The Chancellor's announcement made clear that Wales has the industries of tomorrow. From solar power to battery technology, net zero and renewables to semiconductors helping to power AI. The additional budget increase was modest, but this is understandable given the difficult economic context. 'R&D investments by the government will hopefully see projects from our key sectors make the impossible possible. We would have liked to have seen a more adaptive growth and skills fund geared to minimise apprentices leaving early due to high living costs. Overall, there were positive announcements in the Spending Review. It is now up to local firms and government to enter the bidding processes they are so good at and win that funding for Wales. 'CBI Wales looks forward to working closely with the Welsh Government on the welcomed allocation of additional funding from the UK Government. Our goal is to help reduce the high burden of costs currently facing our businesses in Wales. By doing so, we aim to unlock growth and create more jobs across the country – ensuring the Welsh economy remains resilient and competitive for the future.' Ann Watson, CEO of Skills Charity Enginuity, which promotes skills in the engineering and manufacturing sectors, broadly welcomed the Spending Review. She said: 'Today's Spending Review sends a welcome signal of government support for the UK's priority industrial sectors, with significant investment announced for clean energy, defence and transport. This increase in capital investment will help create demand across the UK's industrial supply chains, providing SMEs with a confidence boost to realise the Government's ambitious economic and decarbonisation goals. With fiscal parameters now in place, the crucial next step is a comprehensive Industrial Strategy that provides clarity, detail and meaningful policies to set a concrete vision for the future of UK industry. 'Enginuity is also pleased to see the Chancellor acknowledge that achieving growth requires investment in skills, with an injection of £1.2 billion of additional investment per year by 2028-29 into the skills system. Its impact will depend on allocation and execution and will no doubt hinge on further details due to be announced in the forthcoming post-16 strategy.' The Tidal Range Alliance (TRA) warned of a 'glaring blindspot' in the UK Government's high-level energy ambitions. It said that while the focus on future energy investment was welcome, it believes there is a 'major lack of risk evaluation, mitigation, and no credible contingency planning'. Robin Peters, Tidal Range Development Lead for the TRA, said: 'The strategy is bold but is dangerously exposed. The focus and future investment in low carbon technologies is to be applauded, but hydrogen fired generation, carbon capture and new nuclear are all high-risk in terms of technology readiness, supply chains, and delivery timelines. 'That risk is being pushed into the market, without the Government retaining control or providing a credible Plan B. 'Tidal Range technology is the Plan B and should be in the mix now. It is a civil infrastructure technology with predictable output, low-risk delivery, and decades of successful generation from existing schemes in France and South Korea. 'Why it has been omitted from the Government's strategic investment plans is not only baffling but a major energy cause for concern.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store