Support in Holyrood for International Development

Support for Scotland’s commitment to International Development was voiced during a debate in the Scottish Parliament this week on the ‘International Situation’. A transcript of the debate can be read in full on the Scottish Parliament’s website: Meeting of the Parliament: 22/04/2025 | Scottish Parliament Website.

Speaking in Holyrood on Tuesday, Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney MSP said:

“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Scottish Government’s international development programme — a significant milestone in Scotland’s commitment to addressing poverty and inequality overseas. At a time when the United States, the United Kingdom and other donors have slashed their aid budgets, we in Scotland are committed to continuing our support to partner countries in the global south and, more widely, to responding to humanitarian emergencies."

The Scottish Green’s Patrick Harvie MSP commented:
“I was pleased that the First Minister drew attention to the Scottish Government’s continued support for international aid. That comes in the context of utterly indefensible—morally and economically indefensible—cuts to investment in international aid and development by the UK and other countries.”

The Scottish Liberal-Democrat’s, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, welcomed the debate and the First Minister's remarks saying:
“It is right that, from time to time, members reflect on the international context in which we find ourselves. We are not governing in a void or passing policy in a vacuum…”

The Scottish Conservative’s Jackson Carlaw MSP said:
“I was very critical of my own Government at Westminster when it temporarily reduced the aid budget, and I said that I hoped that it could be restored, so I am disappointed at the response of the Labour Party to the proposed cut in international aid, because it is that aid that helps to ensure that we are investing in countries that might otherwise become part of the very international situation and problem that we are trying to stand against and prevent occurring.”

Scottish Labour’s Neil Bibby MSP said:
“Strengthening relations with others while also focusing on our own self-reliance is a difficult but important balance to be struck. Countries always have acted in their own national interest—they always will—and we should be no different.
We should also seek to work with international partners on the basis of common goals.”

The Cabinet Secretary responsible for International Development, Angus Robertson MSP concluded the debate saying:
“We will continue to work with partners to promote and strengthen multilateralism and global institutions, to protect human rights and, through our international development programmes and humanitarian responses, to help the most vulnerable where we can.”