Scottish Government has 'hands off' relationship with Prestwick Airport

Transport minister Derek Mackay has said the Scottish Government has a hands-off relationship with Prestwick Airport, when asked about '¨its dealings with Donald Trump.

Picture: Robert Perry

It follows Scotland on Sunday revealing that the airport has been exploring working with the businessman to “win” business and the “integration” of their operations.

Opposition parties have accused the SNP of hypocrisy because senior party figures have called for Mr Trump to be banned from the UK over his remarks about Muslims.
Mr Mackay said: “It [the airport] is an independent organisation.

“We do not have a hands-on approach to managing the affairs of the airport.”

But Conservative transport spokesman Alex Johnstone said: “A grown-up, responsible government would have avoided going out of its way to annoying the man who may become the president of the United States.”