Minister in Arab Spring row

OPPOSITION parties have criticised the Scottish Government’s External Affairs Minister Humza Yousaf, claiming he has drawn crass and irresponsible comparisons between the Arab Spring and Scotland’s own constitutional journey.

On a visit to Qatar to promote links to Scotland, Mr Yousaf yesterday addressed the Doha Forum, which hosts discussions on democracy, development and free trade in the Middle East.

Although the minister said Scotland could not be directly compared with the Arab Spring countries, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats were quick to condemn his remarks.

Mr Yousaf said: “We cannot directly compare the situation in Scotland or the UK today with the situation in new democracies in the Middle East. However, I think there are lessons that we can learn to mutual benefit.

“In Scotland we need to do more to increase participation, especially of young people, in our politics.

“We need to learn more about how we can use digital media as a means of

consulting with the youth, to make young people feel more engaged.

“The challenges for the new democracies are many and varied.

“However, in our experience, a framework that is respectful of the views of others and respects social and political freedoms can help frame the environment in which peaceful transition can take place.

“More importantly than anything it must be inclusive of women, young people, minorities and even of our opponents.”

He said this approach led to the Edinburgh Agreement between the Scottish and UK governments to hold a referendum on Scottish independence in 2014.

Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: “Comparing the drive for democracy which inspired the Arab Spring to the possibility of a separate Scotland is irresponsible and simply ludicrous. Inexperienced junior ministers, trying to draw similarities such as this, makes the Yes campaign look even more flaky and desperate than it already is.”

LibDem leader Willie Rennie said: “It is crass naivety to compare the life-and-death struggles endured in the Arab Spring with the democratic, open referendum process agreed between the Scottish and UK governments.”

He said the UK “is a democracy, not a dictatorship, and George Square is not Tahrir Square.”