Scotland must push for higher defence spending

And so it seems that Scotland’s most prolific hotelier will return to the White House. Donald Trump has staged a political comeback that has torn up the normal rules of politics and sent shockwaves around the world. There are a great many reasons to be aghast at Trump’s return, but as he prepares to take up the Oval Office in just a few weeks, there is precious little time to get emotional. This is a time for hard-headedness.

Understanding the importance of the Scotland-US relationship, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has written to the president-elect and offered his congratulations. Bristle at this though some might, it was the right thing to do. The US is an important market for Scotland and maintaining good relations is in our national interest. Knowing that things could be about to get rocky – the First Minister has already voiced concern over the impact of potential trade tariffs on Scottish jobs – John Swinney is not about to rock the boat any more than it already has been.