THE First Minister said he “expects a direct relationship” with the UK Prime Minister when quizzed about working with Sue Gray in her envoy for the regions and nations role.
Appearing on BBC Newsnight on Friday John Swinney said he “won't be dealing through envoys” when asked by journalist Katie Razzall whether he would work with Gray in her new government position.
Gray had been forced to resign as Keir Starmer's chief of staff last week saying she “risked becoming a distraction” amid infighting inside the Labour-run Downing Street.
She was then appointed as nations and regions envoy with the newly-created role sparking a backlash across the political divide, with both SNP and Tory politicians questioning the position.
Now the leader of the SNP, Swinney, said his officials will work with any UK Government representative but he expects to speak with Starmer directly.
“I don’t know what the role is, but what I expect as First Minister of Scotland is that I will have a direct relationship with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,” he said.
“So, that’s the channel of communication I will have. I won't be dealing through envoys.
“I will have a direct relationship with the Prime Minister, that’s what the public in Scotland would expect the First Minister to have and that is what I expect to have.”
When asked by Razzall to clarify that he doesn’t “intend to go through” Gray, Swinney reiterated that he expects a direct relationship with Starmer and that’s the approach he will take.
He said: “My officials will obviously work with any representatives of the United Kingdom Government, but from my part as First Minister of Scotland I expect to have a direct relationship with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and that’s the approach I will take.”
Last week when Gray’s role was announced Chris Law, the SNP MP for Dundee Central and the party’s international trade spokesperson at Westminster, questioned the appointment.
He said: “If there ever was a colonial mindset then this is it!”
Law went on to add: “We already have Secretaries of State and Ministers of State for each of the nations.
“Envoy is a person deputed by a government to negotiate [a] treaty, or transact business, with a foreign government.”
It was announced yesterday that Gray will not be attending the inaugural meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in Edinburgh on Saturday.
It has been widely reported that she is “taking a break” despite being expected to attend.
Downing Street told The National it would not comment on staffing at the event.
