A Scottish Labour MP jetted into Washington DC for Donald Trump’s inauguration last month – claiming to have held secret talks with a Texan investor wanting to plough cash into his constituency.
Alan Gemmell has refused to say who he met and why but insists the thousands of pounds cost of the trip was paid for by himself.
A spokeswoman for the Central Ayrshire MP said there wasn’t a public interest in revealing the full detail of his visit – despite it being carried in his official capacity.
Critics last night questioned the secrecy of the trip and why Gemmell was associated with Trump.
Green MSP Ross Greer said: “This secrecy and denial of public interest is just not on. It echoes Nigel Farage’s near continuous American voyages.”
Gemmell – a former diplomat who has investments in a Washington DC-based AI firm – claimed he was invited by the mystery company to watch Trump’s inauguration as president on January 20.
He wasn’t inside the US Capitol Building where it took place and instead watched from a fringe event.
Gemmell, 46, is believed to have been the only Labour MP at the inauguration as nobody else from the party’s Westminster contingent – including cabinet members and Prime Minister Keir Starmer – attended.
The only other UK politicians who had flown to DC to see Trump sworn in for a second time were right-wingers like Boris Johnson, Priti Patel, Nigel Farage and Liz Truss.
Labour are also more aligned to the US Democrat party rather than Trump’s Republicans, making Gemmell’s trip even more unusual.
Gemmell made no mention of the trip on his social media feed and only went public after being approached by the Sunday Mail.
His spokeswoman said he went alone and that it wasn’t related to a company called the Leap X Group – a Washington DC cloud computing and AI firm which Gemmell held 15 per cent shares in and was a director of.
A spokeswoman for him said: “Mr Gemmell was invited to Washington DC by a Texan investor considering investing in his Central Ayrshire constituency.
“He attended a number of events including a reception hosted by the British Ambassador for the incoming administration.
“Alan will do all he can to promote Ayrshire and bring jobs and investment into his constituency. Alan Gemmell funded his travel personally.”
But Scottish Greens MSP Greer added: “Donald Trump isn’t someone to applaud. His actions are already hurting people across America, risking the lives of millions of Ukrainians and making the climate crisis far worse. Will Alan Gemmell be jetting off to congratulate Putin next?
“I hope Mr Gemmell realises now that cosying up to a dangerous racist won’t bring prosperity to Ayrshire. What would certainly help is if he spoke out against Labour’s decisions to cut the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners, or apologised for his own vote to maintain the cruel two child benefit cap and associated rape clause.
“Scotland deserves better. We need radical change that puts people and planet before profit. It’s the Scottish Greens who will deliver that, not Starmer’s Labour party.”
The Scottish Labour politician was elected in July’s general election as Starmer’s party stormed to victory with its first Westminster majority in 20 years.
Gemmell ousted the SNP in Central Ayrshire to claim a majority of nearly 7000 votes.
He serves as parliamentary private secretary to Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Starmer’s government.
Gemmell was born and raised in Girdle Toll and Irvine, Ayrshire, before going on to serve as a senior trade diplomat in South Asia, claiming among his accomplishments a reduction in Scotch whisky tariffs in India.
The return of Trump to the White House has raised the threat of global trade wars, with the 47th US president targeting nations like China, Canada and Mexico with swingeing tariffs.
Trump’s second inauguration was the first in 30 years to be held indoors due to freezing temperatures and high winds.
It took place in the US Capitol rotunda – like President Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985 – instead of the usual spot outside with the iconic view of Washington DC’s National Mall.