Removal of Trump’s status criticised as spin

FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of spinning the cancellation of a business ambassador post that was given to US presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The Scottish Government last year rescinded Mr Trump’s status as a “GlobalScot” over antiMuslim remarks, but an email reveals his membership was “inactive” at the time and would “very likely” come to a natural end within days.

Mr Trump is contesting next month’s presidential election for the Republicans on the back of a fierce antiimmigration platform.

In 2006, the then First Minister Jack McConnell invited Mr Trump to become a GlobalScot, a world-wide network scheme run by Scottish Enterprise.

After his statement on Muslims, the Scottish Government issued a rebuke saying his role as a GlobalScot would be “withdrawn with immediate effect”.

However, an email between Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government – sent on the same day as the Government made its public statement – reveals Mr Trump was within a fortnight of losing the position anyway.

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said Ms Sturgeon had made a “big deal” of stripping Mr Trump of his GlobalScot status. “It now transpires he was going to lose it anyway and the First Minister’s actions are exposed as no more than spin,” he said.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “We were aware Mr Trump’s GlobalScot status was inactive at the time – however, it was a position he still formally held and could have used.

“Therefore, given the nature of his comments and the need to signal the Government’s view of the matter, it was important it was withdrawn with immediate effect.”