Few nations share a cultural bond as deep and enduring as that between Scotland and the United States. This relationship, born out of shared values, family roots, and a spirit of adventure, has shaped both nations over centuries – and today, it remains a powerful force for opportunity, growth, and mutual understanding.
From the early days of the American republic, Scottish influence has been woven into the fabric of the United States. Several of the founding fathers were of Scottish descent, taking Enlightenment ideals learned in Edinburgh and Glasgow and embedding them into the very Constitution of a new nation.
That legacy is still alive today – visible not just in the names of towns like Glasgow, Kentucky or Scotland County, North Carolina, but in the cultural pride that Americans of Scottish heritage continue to hold dear.
That pride was on full display this week during Tartan Week in New York, where thousands of Americans with Scottish roots marched through Manhattan to the sound of bagpipes and cheers.
It’s a reminder that the cultural link between our nations is not just historical—it’s personal, emotional, and alive.
And yes that culture is tartan and classical Scottish cooking. But it’s also film and entertainment and video games, inspirational software and and products.
Our cultural bonds must be more than symbolic. In today’s unpredictable global climate—with economic pressures, shifting alliances, and rapid technological change—it’s more important than ever to turn shared history into shared opportunity.
And those relationships, person to person, business to business and our cultural ties are more important than ever before. That’s why I’ve been in the United States this week—not just to celebrate the past, but to build Scotland’s future.
By forging connections with American businesses, political leaders, and investors, we can unlock vast economic potential. The United States is already Scotland’s largest trading partner outside the EU.
In 2024 alone, we exported nearly £4billion worth of goods to the US—from whisky and seafood to tech and renewables.
But we’ve only scratched the surface. There is enormous goodwill towards Scotland in America. Heritage tourism, for instance, is a multi-billion-pound opportunity, as millions of Americans seek to reconnect with their Scottish roots.
Other countries—like Ireland—have long understood the power of cultural affinity in driving economic success. We must do the same.
Unfortunately, that opportunity is too often undermined by a Scottish Government that prioritises grievance over growth. Rather than reaching out, they retreat. Instead of welcoming investors—whether they be Fortune 500 firms or individuals with family ties to Scotland—they send a message, Scotland is closed.
That must change. Scotland needs leadership that doesn’t just celebrate culture but harnesses it—using our unique transatlantic ties to drive trade, tourism, and investment. We need a First Minister who sees beyond division and champions Scotland as the dynamic, open, and ambitious country we know it can be.
The bond between Scotland and America is unshakeable. It is cultural, it is economic, and it is filled with possibility. Now, we must turn that possibility into prosperity.
General Practice is the front door to our NHS – it is our first port of call when something feels not quite right.
But under the SNP, too many Scots find that that all-important front door is closed in their hour of need. To get an appointment you will typically need a spare hour to hang on the phone during the morning rush and some good luck.
Audit Scotland warned that the SNP will likely break its promise to increase GP numbers, criticising the government’s lack of transparency.
We can’t fix our NHS without first supporting GPs
GP numbers in Scotland have plummeted by over 200 since 2013 as SNP Ministers cut funding and the RCGP has warned that they are “in a state of perpetual crisis” as a result of the SNP’s systematic neglect.
So people will go without the help they need – their conditions will worsen until they end up at the front door of a hospital or worse. We cannot fix the crisis in our NHS without properly supporting GPs.
But the SNP has been in charge for 18 years – if it had a plan to fix our NHS, we would have seen it by now. A Scottish Labour government will deliver fair funding for GPs and renegotiate the contract to end the 8am rush and bring back the family doctor.
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, clickhere