by Bill Heaney
Why does the Scottish Government continue to allow the United States to use Prestwick Airport to pursue the war against Iran in the Middle East?
Green MSP Gillian Mackay put that question to First Minister John Swinney in the Scottish Parliament today.
She said: “Since the Scottish Greens last raised the issue of Prestwick airport in the chamber, investigations by the BBC, the Sunday Mail and The National have confirmed that the airport has been used by US military refuelling jets.
“Those jets have gone on to fly missions in the US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran. Military experts say that that is concrete proof of our complicity in a war that has killed more than 1,300 people in Iran, including more than 200 children.
“The First Minister previously said that he would consider banning US forces from the airport if it was confirmed that it was being used to support military action in the middle east. What more does the First Minister need? Does he accept that Prestwick is being used to directly support the Israeli-US bombing campaign in Iran?”
“As a consequence of that concern, I have looked closely at the situation in relation to Prestwick airport.
“The Scottish Government acquired Prestwick airport on the basis of an intervention that it was within our powers to exercise in relation to economic development and employment. If I were to take the appropriate steps to prevent flights from entering Scotland, I would need to exercise national security, aviation, air transport, defence and foreign affairs powers, all of which are reserved to the United Kingdom Government.
“I would like to be able to exercise powers in that respect, but I would be exceeding my constitutional authority if I did so. That is a matter of regret for me.
“However, I am continuing to pursue dialogue with the United Kingdom Government, in order to address and raise the issues that Gillian Mackay has put to me today.”
“We know that the public in Scotland are overwhelmingly against this war, and we know that the airport is owned by the Scottish Government, which had already taken the decision to ban Israeli planes. It can take the same decision now, and we do not need to wait to ask for Westminster’s permission to do anything. When will the First Minister properly stand up for Scotland and finally kick Trump’s troops out?”
“As the First Minister of Scotland, I will always act within the law. That might be frustrating for me at times, and I assure Gillian Mackay and the Parliament that it is immensely frustrating for me at this particular moment.
“However, that is a vivid reminder to me of what is absolutely necessary for our country as we look to the future, which is to be a voice to argue for the de-escalation of conflicts in the middle east, to be a voice for peace and to avoid conflict. To do that, we must be an independent country, which is what I intend to deliver for the people of Scotland.”
The Scotland and the UK is the forward operating base for attacks on Iran.
Folks should do well to recognise Prime Minister Starmers public denials that the UK is only involved in defensive support.
Attached link describes how a US B1 Lancer super sonic bomber on an attack mission from RAF Fairford was on its return to its UK base denied EU airspace through Spain, Portugal and France.
https://airlive.net/military/2026/03/19/us-air-force-b-1b-bombers-denied-access-to-european-union-airspace/
The article gives details of the US bomber flight and how it had to make its way back to its operating base in the UK.
And Preswick. Well its part of the supply chain to stock the US land based aircraft carrier the USS Grande Brittain