A former SNP MSP has been criticised after she pulled up John Swinney over a solidarity message to Ukraine. Sandra White accused the First Minister of “taking sides” after he praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his admiration of celebrated poet Robert Burns.
Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: “Sandra White seems to have a pretty misguided idea of ‘taking sides’.
“We should be free to voice our support for Ukraine and celebrate our cultural ties. None of that discounts the suffering endured by the Russian people or the bravery of the Russian dissidents who have spoken out against the tyranny of Putin’s regime. We must stand in solidarity with Ukraine and all those who have bravely defied Putin.”
Swinney and the other leaders of Scotland’s mainstream political parties have been united in their condemnation of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. On January 25th, a day on which many people around the world celebrate Burns’ birthday, Swinney took to X to back Zelenskyy.
Swinney wrote: “Today @ZelenskyyUa marks his birthday which he shares with our National Bard #RobertBurns. The President is a great admirer of the work of Burns. So from Scotland to Ukraine we send solidarity and support and an appreciation of the enduring power of Burns.”
He finished his tweet with an image of Ukraine’s flag, but White criticised him and his special advisers, otherwise known as spads.
She tweeted: “Wrong call John have a word with your Spads its not about taking sides Russia has been an advocate for our Bard 1st country to dedicate a postage stamp to him 1956.”
Users of the X platform responded to White, who was an MSP in Glasgow between 1999 and 2021. One wrote: “What are you on about?” Another said: “Michty me what a daft thing to say.”
Scottish Tory MSP Annie Wells said: “This is a shameful post from a senior SNP figure. ”
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