Sir Malcolm Rifkind accuses SNP of ‘pure posturing’ over Gaza war

Scottish Government criticised for overstepping on matters of foreign policy after ban on meeting Israeli diplomats

Sir Malcolm Rifkind has accused the SNP of “pure posturing” on the Israel-Gaza conflict, after the Scottish Government announced a ban on meeting Israeli diplomats.
John Swinney, the First Minister, said that Israel’s conduct meant that there would be “no further dialogue” with them, while SNP ministers will continue to meet Palestinian officials.
Sir Malcolm, who served as foreign secretary under John Major, accused the SNP of “pure posturing” on the conflict as they have “no responsibility for foreign policy”.
He told The Sunday Telegraph: “This is pure posturing and pretending to have a role. They don’t have a role.”
He added: “They have no responsibility for foreign policy. There is nothing they can do about it.
“They’re not the government of an independent country, and therefore whether their views are pro-Palestinian, pro-Israeli, trying to be somewhere in between, are utterly irrelevant to anyone other than their own posturing.”
Angus Robertson, Scotland’s external affairs secretary, was forced by party colleagues to apologise for meeting a senior Israeli diplomat earlier this month.
It is the latest incident in recent months for which the Scottish Government has been criticised for overstepping on matters of foreign policy.
Lord Cameron wrote to Humza Yousaf, the then-first minister, accusing him of reneging on an agreement to have a UK official present at face-to-face talks with foreign leaders.
Mr Yousaf met with Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, to discuss the crisis in Gaza.
The former foreign secretary said that foreign affairs are a policy area reserved to UK ministers and it was crucial “that we speak with one voice to the international community”.
Lord Cameron warned that any “further breaches” would result in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) withdrawing all “facilitation of meetings or logistical support”.
The Scottish government insisted it had “no difficulty” with a FCDO representative attending meetings, but that the last-minute timings meant that they were unavailable.
Sir Malcolm, who grew up in a Jewish family in Scotland, said: “I would’ve thought the SNP, with all the current problems that it has, might be finding a better use for their time if they concentrate on trying to improve the government of Scotland.”
He added: “Whatever your views may be on the Middle East issues in Israel and Palestine, I don’t think either the Israelis or the Palestinians for that matter, will be losing much sleep as to whether the SNP will speak with them or not.”
The SNP has been accused of anti-Semitism over the move by the brother of a Jewish man who was murdered in the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas.
Colin Cowan, whose brother, Bernard Cowan, 57, was killed in his home in Kibbutz Sufa in southern Israel, accused Mr Yousaf of using his grieving mother as a “photo opportunity”.
The former first minister was pictured embracing Mrs Cowan at a memorial service for the Oct 7 victims.
He accused the SNP of a “blatant double standard” between the decision, and Mr Yousaf previously inviting Mr Erdogan to Scotland.
A spokesman for the Scottish government said in response to Mr Cowan’s remarks: “The First Minister extends his deepest condolences for Mr Cowan’s loss. He would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with Mr Cowan and his family.
“From the outset of the conflict, the Scottish Government has condemned Hamas’ barbaric attacks on Oct 7. The Scottish Government supports an immediate ceasefire and a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace.”