SNP MUST PUT SCOTLAND'S INTERESTS FIRST - SMITH

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th May 2008

Liberal Democrat Culture spokesperson Iain Smith MSP will move an amendment to the Scottish Government's International Framework debate to ensure that the Scottish Government action and documents promote Scotland and not the narrow nationalist independence agenda.

Commenting ahead of the debate in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Smith said:

"The Scottish Government must put Scotland's national interests before the interests of the Scottish Nationalists.

"The key focus of the Government's International Framework should be promoting Scotland by developing our economic, education, tourism and cultural links and protecting Scotland's interests in Europe.

"This will all be undermined if time and resources are wasted promoting a minority agenda of an independent Scotland. This will only serve to confuse the international community about what Scotland is and what we have to offer.

"Whilst Nationalist politicians are free to waste their own time promoting their negative independence agenda abroad, it is not the role of the Scottish Government to do so. Their job is to stand up for all Scots and to work within the United Kingdom to promote and protect the interests of Scotland at home and abroad."

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

The text of the amendment, moved by Mr Smith is below:

As an amendment to motion S3M-1838 in the name of Linda Fabiani: 'International Framework'

Insert at end:

but does not consider it in the best interests of Scotland for the Scottish Government to promote policies which do not command the support of this Parliament, and in particular does not believe that the International Framework or any of the related documents or actions of the Scottish Government should contain any reference to Scottish Independence, for which the minority Scottish Government has no mandate nor any authority from this Parliament to promote.