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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Politics
Craig Paton

Swinney skipping TV debate to avoid it being ‘group of blokes talking politics’

John Swinney Mairi McAllan Robert Perry SNP
The First Minister has chosen not to appear with all the other party leaders on Question Time this week (Robert Perry/PA) - (PA Wire)

A “group of blokes sitting around talking politics” would “not be a good look”, John Swinney has said as he defended his decision not to appear on a flagship BBC programme.

The First Minister has faced accusations he is “running scared” of other leaders after he announced Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan would appear in his place on Question Time in Aberdeen on Thursday.

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