Drew Hendry slams 'paranoid and insecure' UK government over bid to curtail Scotland's international engagement

MP Drew Hendry has slammed attempts by the UK government to curtail Scottish international engagement as "paranoid and insecure" after Foreign Secretary James Cleverly allegedly ordered UK diplomats to shadow delegates.

Mr Hendry, the SNP foreign affairs spokesperson at Westminster argued that the move would "backfire and strengthen support for independence" as it shows the UK government fears Scotland having a strong voice on the world stage.

He added that the crackdown showed Westminster knows that its “deeply undemocratic stance” towards Scotland is "becoming an embarrassment to its reputation internationally."

He said: "This clumsy attempt to silence Scotland shows the UK government is paranoid and insecure about Scotland having a strong voice on the world stage.

"The Tory government knows its deeply undemocratic stance towards Scotland is becoming an embarrassment to its reputation internationally, which has already been shot to bits by Brexit and its repeated breaches of international law.

"This latest Tory attack on devolution shows weakness, not strength - it will backfire and strengthen support for independence.

"The only people who are not adhering to and respecting the devolution settlement are the UK Government – who are riding roughshod over the powers of the democratically-elected Scottish Parliament left, right and centre.

"The more they attack devolution and try to censor Scotland's parliament, the more Westminster shows independence is essential to protecting Scotland's interests."

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