John Swinney will face questions from the opposition after the Prime Minister sacked US ambassador Lord Mandelson over his links with paedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
The Prime Minister asked the foreign secretary to withdraw Mandelson as ambassador to the US after an urgent question in the House of Commons on Thursday morning.
Mandelson was hand-picked by Starmer as Britain’s ambassador to the US before questions were raised over his friendship with the disgraced financier.
Swinney could face questions about the decision after staying with Mandelson during his most recent trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with Donald Trump earlier this week.
The First Minister met with the US President in the Oval Office on Tuesday to discuss a better trade deal for Scotch whisky.
The 50-minute meeting took place ahead of the President’s state visit to the UK next week.
Swinney travelled to the United States for a series of trade and political meetings to argue that Scotch whisky should be exempt from the standard 10% duty charge when it is imported to the USA, as it can only legally be produced in Scotland.
On Wednesday, Swinney told reporters he believes there’s a “real chance” of a better deal.
“We set out our case, set out the chance that we believe exists for a better deal that benefits America and Scotland, and President Trump listened carefully to Scotland’s case,” the First Minister said.
“But I want to be very clear, we did not conclude a deal. That rests with the UK Government to negotiate and to deliver for Scotch whisky.”
He added: “I think there’s every possibility that a deal could be made here.”
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