DOUGLAS Alexander has been left red-faced after files appeared to show that the Scotland Office had "no input" on the removal of US tariffs on Scottish whisky.
The Scottish Secretary was quick to decry John Swinney’s efforts to have the 10% levy removed, saying last year that the First Minister should stick to domestic issues.
After the tariffs were lifted by US president Donald Trump earlier this year, Alexander claimed that Swinney had been “caught red handed claiming credit for something you didn’t achieve”, saying that the work was done by “British negotiators”.
When it emerged that Trump had messaged Swinney thanking him for his contribution in getting the removal of tariffs over the line, the Scotland Office refused to respond. Alexander also went quiet on social media.
The National then lodged a Freedom of Information (FOI) request with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to see how much involvement the Scotland Office had in the final days of negotiations.
We asked for internal correspondence, briefing notes and records of meetings and any agendas or memos taken, between April 17 and May 15 2026. Trump announced he would remove the tariffs on April 30.
We asked for any documents which referred to, mentioned or discussed the Scottish Government, the First Minister or “correspondence and engagement with the Scotland Office”.
In response, DBT released two annexes of files. The first is mostly redacted, and appears to be an email chain between the trade department’s communications team and a special adviser at the Scotland Office on April 28.
The only viewable text reads: “Scotland Office to be looped in.”
A second email chain released shows correspondence between the DBT and Scotland Office communications teams on April 30, the day of the announcement of the removal of tariffs.
It contains quotes from then Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle where he said he had been “advocating for lower tariffs on key exports like whisky”.
A Scotland Office press officer then sent comments made by Swinney, where he hailed the “tremendous news”, back to Kyle’s department.
Aside from the quotes, exchanges within the email chain have been heavily redacted as they are said to be “out of scope”.
In response to the documents, SNP MSP Karen Adam: "Douglas Alexander's tail is already firmly between his legs after his embarrassing conduct throughout the whisky deal negotiations – a bit of that whisky to rub on the gums he keeps bumping would do him well.
"After a crushing election defeat, his own colleagues ridiculing him and now it being exposed that he is merely copied in on UK Government press releases – it must be really painful for the guy.
"I hope he is keeping well down in London with his obviously numerous friends in Scottish Labour."
A UK Government spokesperson said: “The Scotland Office worked closely with colleagues across the UK Government during the months of careful negotiations with our friends and partners in the United States, and the Secretary of State for Scotland actively advocated for Scottish interests throughout – including in his previous role as Trade Minister in the Department of Business and Trade.
"The UK Government has also agreed major trade deals with the EU, the United States, and India – as well as new trade measures with China – all of which will boost whisky exports."
