By Bill Heaney

SNP Minister Angus Robertson’s trip to China, has come under fire from the LibDems.

News of it was  released without any mention of human rights or security issues related to China.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:   “I would be extremely interested to know whether Angus Robertson plans to use any of his time in China to discuss human rights abuses and violations, not least the continued incarceration of Hong Kong freedom campaigner and journalist Jimmy Lai.

“The Scottish Government never seem to think about what kinds of messages their decisions send, or what the risks of them may be.  

Alex Cole-Hamilton and Angus Robertson (right).

“It was, after all, an SNP government that let a Chinese company with connections to human rights abuses and gross corruption sign a bogus £10 billion agreement with Nicola Sturgeon.

“Likewise, it was only after research from my party that the Scottish Government agreed to end its reliance on security cameras made by the Chinese company Hikvision, who are implicated in surveillance of China’s Uyghur minority.

“While Angus Robertson gets wined and dined by the Beijing regime, Liberal Democrats will continue calling on the Scottish Government to conduct immediate strategic audits of the reach of China’s interests and influences in our country.”

Top of page: Angus Robertson currying favour in happier times with Nicola Sturgeon.