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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| David Cameron threat over Yousaf's Erdogan meeting 'breach' | David Cameron threat over Yousaf's Erdogan meeting 'breach' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Humza Yousaf met the Turkish president at COP28 | Humza Yousaf met the Turkish president at COP28 |
| Foreign Secretary David Cameron has threatened to withdraw co-operation with Scottish ministers after Humza Yousaf met with Recep Tayyip Erdogan. | Foreign Secretary David Cameron has threatened to withdraw co-operation with Scottish ministers after Humza Yousaf met with Recep Tayyip Erdogan. |
| The first minister met the Turkish president at COP28 without a UK official present, which Lord Cameron said was a breach of protocol. | The first minister met the Turkish president at COP28 without a UK official present, which Lord Cameron said was a breach of protocol. |
| It comes amid ongoing tensions between Scotland and the UK government over meetings with foreign officials. | It comes amid ongoing tensions between Scotland and the UK government over meetings with foreign officials. |
| The Scottish government said the letter was a "gross overreaction". | |
| A UK government source told the BBC Lord Cameron wants to take a "harder line" approach than his predecessor James Cleverly. | A UK government source told the BBC Lord Cameron wants to take a "harder line" approach than his predecessor James Cleverly. |
| Foreign affairs are reserved to the UK government but the devolved nations are allowed to engage internationally on devolved competencies. | |
| Talks after US shoots down Turkish drone in Syria | Talks after US shoots down Turkish drone in Syria |
| Minister criticised by SNP colleague over China trip | Minister criticised by SNP colleague over China trip |
| Why Scotland needs to 'up our game' on climate | Why Scotland needs to 'up our game' on climate |
| The BBC has seen a letter which Lord Cameron, who returned to the cabinet as foreign secretary last month, has written to the SNP's External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson. | The BBC has seen a letter which Lord Cameron, who returned to the cabinet as foreign secretary last month, has written to the SNP's External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson. |
| In that letter, Lord Cameron said the Scottish government had assured the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) that it would give "sufficient advance notice" of the meeting with Mr Erdogan. | In that letter, Lord Cameron said the Scottish government had assured the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) that it would give "sufficient advance notice" of the meeting with Mr Erdogan. |
| He said this was to allow one of his officials to attend the meeting and "was not done". | He said this was to allow one of his officials to attend the meeting and "was not done". |
| "The absence of an FCDO official at this meeting contravenes the protocols in our guidance on FCDO support to devolved government ministers' overseas visits," the letter reads. | "The absence of an FCDO official at this meeting contravenes the protocols in our guidance on FCDO support to devolved government ministers' overseas visits," the letter reads. |
| "Any further breaches of the protocol of ministerial meetings have a FCDO official present will result in no further FCDO facilitation of meetings or logistical support. | "Any further breaches of the protocol of ministerial meetings have a FCDO official present will result in no further FCDO facilitation of meetings or logistical support. |
| "We will also need to consider the presence of Scottish government offices in UK government posts." | "We will also need to consider the presence of Scottish government offices in UK government posts." |
| Lord Cameron at a press conference in Washington in December - he was appointed foreign secretary last month | Lord Cameron at a press conference in Washington in December - he was appointed foreign secretary last month |
| James Cleverly made a similar threat when he was foreign secretary after Mr Yousaf met the Icelandic prime minister in August, again without UK diplomats. | |
| However a UK government source said this latest intervention represents and "escalation" over the issue and the foreign secretary wishes to take a "harder line" approach than Mr Cleverly. | However a UK government source said this latest intervention represents and "escalation" over the issue and the foreign secretary wishes to take a "harder line" approach than Mr Cleverly. |
| On the meeting with President Erdogan, the source said that Foreign Office officials were not told where it would take place "until it was too late". | On the meeting with President Erdogan, the source said that Foreign Office officials were not told where it would take place "until it was too late". |
| The move "undermined UK foreign policy", they said. | The move "undermined UK foreign policy", they said. |
| A UK government spokesperson added: "Foreign affairs is reserved under the Scotland Act and in such turbulent times, the need for the UK to speak on the world stage with one consistent voice is more important than ever." | |
| However the Scottish government said that they had intended to have an official present for the meeting with the Turkish president - but "a last minute change of time" prevented them from doing so. | |
| A spokesperson said: "You can hardly say to a president, 'Can you wait a second while we find our chaperone?'" | |
| They added that the FCDO representative was "very late" for a couple of meetings at the summit, but that was "the nature of fast moving things like Cop." | |
| Gaza talks | |
| The meeting between Mr Yousaf and Mr Erdogan had already proven controversial within the first minister's party. | The meeting between Mr Yousaf and Mr Erdogan had already proven controversial within the first minister's party. |
| SNP councillor Roza Salih said she was "disgusted" by the meeting, as Turkey had stepped up attacks on Kurdish groups in Syria. | SNP councillor Roza Salih said she was "disgusted" by the meeting, as Turkey had stepped up attacks on Kurdish groups in Syria. |
| The Kurdish-born politician was elected in 2022 and became the first councillor to have moved to Scotland as a refugee. | The Kurdish-born politician was elected in 2022 and became the first councillor to have moved to Scotland as a refugee. |
| Allow Twitter content? | Allow Twitter content? |
| This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. | This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. |
| The first minister posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he had discussed the climate crisis and the Israel-Gaza conflict with Mr Erdogan and the Lebanese prime minister during their meeting on 1 December. | The first minister posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he had discussed the climate crisis and the Israel-Gaza conflict with Mr Erdogan and the Lebanese prime minister during their meeting on 1 December. |
| He said he had called for an immediate ceasefire in the region. The BBC understands this contradiction of the UK government position has caused particular concern in the foreign office. | He said he had called for an immediate ceasefire in the region. The BBC understands this contradiction of the UK government position has caused particular concern in the foreign office. |
| Mr Erdogan has taken a critical stance of Israel, accusing it of behaving like a "war criminal". | Mr Erdogan has taken a critical stance of Israel, accusing it of behaving like a "war criminal". |
| He made the comments while addressing thousands of demonstrators at a pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul in October. | He made the comments while addressing thousands of demonstrators at a pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul in October. |
| Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen responded by ordering diplomats to return. | Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen responded by ordering diplomats to return. |
| Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has "the most moral army in the world". | Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has "the most moral army in the world". |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| David Cameron | David Cameron |
| Turkey | Turkey |
| Foreign & Commonwealth Office | Foreign & Commonwealth Office |
| Recep Tayyip Erdogan | Recep Tayyip Erdogan |
| Humza Yousaf | Humza Yousaf |