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Daily Record
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Donald Trump speaks on Scottish independence after John Swinney announces referendum plan
Keir Starmer said "I think the UK is always stronger as four nations" after John Swinney used his Daily Record column to announce his IndyRef2 strategy. Donald Trump has played down the prospect of a second referendum on Scottish independence and warned "a country can't go through that too much" The US President joined Keir Starmer for a press conference at the Turnberry Hotel in South Ayrshire today where he was asked about John Swinney's plans for an IndyRef. The SNP leader used his regular column in the Daily Record to reveal his party must win an outright majority of MSPs at Holyrood to secure another vote on Scotland's constitutional future. Trump initially quipped "I don't want to get involved in your politics - we've got enough politics of our own" but then offered his opinion on whether the 2014 referendum was a once in a generation event. He told reporters at his five star hotel: "I don't want to get involved in your politics, we've got enough politics of our own. What I will say, I predicted what was going to happen the last time, you remember? I was opening the first course over at Aberdeen, and I was over here, and they asked me that question. It was the day before the vote, and I like to be correct, but I made a correct prediction. "When they made that deal, somebody said 'could they do this all the time?'. There was a little bit of a restriction, like something like 50 or 75 years before you could take another vote. Because a country can't go through that too much. "I don't know the First Minister but I've heard great things about him, I've spoken to him, I hear very good things about him, and I'm meeting him today, so maybe I'll have a better opinion then. Keir Starmer also dismissed the idea of another independence referendum. Speaking alongside the President, the Prime Minister added: "Let me answer that straightforwardly, because I believe in a stronger Scotland, in a better United Kingdom. At a time like this, it's quite clear, when there's uncertainty and volatility around the world, the strength of the United Kingdom together is very important for all four nations, and it's very important for Scotland. That should be our priority, that should be our focus - and not on the politics of yesteryear, at a time like this. "I think the First Minister should probably focus more on his delivery in Scotland than on his constitutional issues, and we might have a better health service in Scotland. "At a time like this, I think the UK is always stronger as four nations, and that's better for all four nations."
Daily Record
25-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Donald Trump arrives in Scotland as President greeted at Prestwick Airport
The President was to be greeted by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray as he stepped off the Air Force One flight. Donald Trump has arrived at Prestwick Airport ahead of his four-day "private" trip in Scotland. The US President was to be greeted by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray after the Air Force One flight touched down at around 8.28pm on Friday. The Republican leader will now head from the airport to spend time at his luxury Turnberry Hotel and golf resort, which is 35 miles further south. Trump is expected to meet Keir Starmer in South Ayrshire in the coming days before they then both travel to Aberdeenshire, where the President will formally open a new golf course at his Menie Estate. Murray said yesterday the UK will extend a "warm welcome" to the president, given the historic ties between the two countries. "Of course it's a warm welcome,' he said. "We would always have a warm welcome for the president of the United States. "The office of the president of the United States and the office of the Prime Minister are ones that work very, very closely together, and should do, because it's in our national interest to do so. 'We should make sure those relationships are in place because it's important for our defence, our security, our economy – especially for jobs – and it's really, really important to the finer details of the US trade deal that's been done.' Murray's comments come despite a 2019 motion in the House of Commons which he backed – along with Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Health Secretary Wes Streeting – while in opposition which accused the president of 'misogynism, racism and xenophobia'. Pressed on his support for the motion, Murray did not answer, instead focusing on the importance of the relationship between the two countries. Murray said the Scottish Secretary has a 'duty' to welcome foreign dignitaries. Speaking to reporters before he began his travel to Scotland today, the US president described his Turnberry golf course as 'the number one course in the world'. Trump said he was going to have dinner at Turnberry with Starmer and 'then we're going to go to the oil capital of Europe, which is Aberdeen'. He added: 'We're going to have a good time. I think the Prime Minister and I get along very well.' Trump will also meet with John Swinney during his time in Scotland. Asked about meeting with the First Minister, President Trump said he has a 'lot of love' for Scotland. He added: ' The Scottish leader is a good man, so I look forward to meeting him.' Trump also indicated he and Sir Keir Starmer could 'approve' the US-UK trade deal when they meet in Scotland. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. He said: 'We're going to be talking about the trade deal that we made and maybe even approve it.' Protests are expected in parts of Scotland during the visit, with police expected to be stretched and requests for extra officers being issued to other forces in the UK. The Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said policing will be 'seriously affected'.
Daily Record
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Donald Trump in Scotland LIVE as US President jets in for weekend at Turnberry
Donald Trump will arrive in Scotland this evening for his first visit to his mother's homeland since May 2023. The US President is expected to land at Prestwick before heading to the luxury Turnberry Hotel on the South Ayrshire coast. As revealed by the Record, he is likely to arrive at around 8.20pm. The Republican leader, a well-known golf enthusiast, will enjoy a few rounds on the famous links this weekend before meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The pair are then expected to travel to the north-east, where Trump will formally open a second course at his Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire. The US President will hold meetings in Aberdeen, including with First Minister John Swinney. Trump is expected to fly back to the US on Tuesday. 10:23 Chris McCall The US President is expected to land at Prestwick this evening, where he will be formally welcomed by Ian Murray, the Scottish Secretary. Trump will then transfer to Turnberry, which lies 30 miles south of the airport on the Ayrshire coast.
Daily Record
25-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Scots farmer next door to Trump's golf resort warns President 'I will never sell'
Michael Forbes made headlines around the world after he refused to vacate his smallholding in Aberdeenshire next to the Trump International Golf Links. A Scots farmer has warned Donald Trump he will never sell his land next door to the US president's luxury golf resort in Aberdeenshire. Michael Forbes spoke out as the Republican leader is set to fly in to Scotland later today for a four-day visit. Trump is expected to land at Prestwick airport onboard Air Force One before transferring to his five-star Turnberry Hotel, which lies 30 miles further south along the Ayrshire coast. The New Yorker will spend time at the high-end resort before flying to the north-east where he will formally open a second golf course at his Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire. But locals in Menie have not forgotten the long-running planning row in the 2000s which soured relations between them and Trump. Forbes, 73, made headlines around the world after he refused to vacate his smallholding next to the now President's multi-million-pound development. "There's no way I'm ever going to sell," he told the media this week ahead of the Republican leader's latest visit to Aberdeenshire. "Everyone in Scotland hates him." Forbes, who keeps three Highland cows on his land, and his neighbour David Milne both own properties adjacent to what is now Trump International Golf Links. They declined to sell their land in the 2000s and the tycoon went on the offensive. Trump was previously filmed looking up at Milnes' home - a converted coastguard station on a hill - saying "I want to get rid of that house". Told by an employee that this could cause a "bit of stir" the New Yorker replied: "Who cares? We are going to build the greatest golf course in the world, this house is ugly." Trump also once accused Forbes of living in a "pig-like atmosphere". Milne said this week he had no plans to sell his house - and also ruled out repeating a previous protest of flying a Mexican flag during Trump's visit. "Once the Mexican people told him where to go, there didn't seem to be any point," he told the New York Times. "They're quite capable of taking care of themselves." Forbes previously branded the President a "clown" when appearing on a US comedy show in 2017. He added; "The only regret I have is I didn't knock him on his arse when I met him". It comes as Ian Murray yesterday insisted Trump would receive a "warm welcome" when he lands at Prestwick. The Scottish Secretary, who is expected to formally welcome the President when he steps off Air Force One, said the visit would help strengthen the relationship between the UK and the US. "We would always have a warm welcome for the president of the United States," he told BBC Radio Scotland. "The office of the president of the United States and the office of the Prime Minister are ones that work very, very closely together, and should do, because it's in our national interest to do so. 'We should make sure those relationships are in place because it's important for our defence, our security, our economy – especially for jobs – and it's really, really important to the finer details of the US trade deal that's been done.' Murray's comments come despite a 2019 motion in the House of Commons which he backed – along with Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Health Secretary Wes Streeting – while in opposition which accused the president of 'misogynism, racism and xenophobia'. Pressed on his support for the motion, the Edinburgh MP did not answer and instead focused on the importance of the relationship between the two countries. Murray insisted the Scottish Secretary has a 'duty' to welcome foreign dignitaries.
Daily Record
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Donald Trump will receive a 'warm welcome' in Scotland when US President flies in to Prestwick
Ian Murray, the Scottish Secretary, is expected to greet Donald Trump when he departs from Air Force One at Prestwick Airport. Donald Trump will receive a "warm welcome" from the UK Government when he jets in to Scotland, Ian Murray has said. The Scottish Secretary is expected to formally welcome the US President when he steps off Air Force One at Prestwick Airport tomorrow night. The Republican leader will then head from the airport to spend time at his luxury Turnberry Hotel and golf resort, which is 35 miles further south. Trump is expected to meet Keir Starmer in South Ayrshire in the coming days before they then both travel to Aberdeenshire, where the President will formally open a new golf course at his Menie Estate. Murray said today the UK will extend a "warm welcome" to the president, given the historic ties between the two countries. "Of course it's a warm welcome,' he said. "We would always have a warm welcome for the president of the United States. "The office of the president of the United States and the office of the Prime Minister are ones that work very, very closely together, and should do, because it's in our national interest to do so. 'We should make sure those relationships are in place because it's important for our defence, our security, our economy – especially for jobs – and it's really, really important to the finer details of the US trade deal that's been done.' Murray's comments come despite a 2019 motion in the House of Commons which he backed – along with Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Health Secretary Wes Streeting – while in opposition which accused the president of 'misogynism, racism and xenophobia'. Pressed on his support for the motion, Murray did not answer, instead focusing on the importance of the relationship between the two countries. Murray said the Scottish Secretary has a 'duty' to welcome foreign dignitaries. Protests are expected in parts of Scotland during the visit, with police expected to be stretched and requests for extra officers being issued to other forces in the UK. The Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said policing will be 'seriously affected'. Scots Tory MP Andrew Bowie accused Murray of a U-turn over Trump. He said: "Ian Murray's desperate squirming was the definition of a car-crash interview. He had no credible explanation for his complete U-turn on the importance of President Trump visiting this country. "So let me help him: in 2019 he was shamelessly playing to the gallery like a student politician, whereas today he is a government minister forced to get real and behave like a grown-up. "I'm glad that Ian Murray has belatedly recognised how vital it is for Scotland to welcome, and work constructively with, the US President – but he'd have more credibility if he put his hands up and owned his past juvenile opportunism."
