FMQs: Greens call for White House apology for Vance lies
The First Minister has been urged to back calls for a White House apology for the lies and misinformation peddled by Vice President JD Vance about safe access zones in Scotland.
Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay introduced the bill that secured 200 metre wide safe access zones, or buffer zones, around abortion service providers to stop the intimidating anti-choice protests that were taking place across Scotland.
In a speech last week, VP Vance claimed that people in Scotland were told that private prayer in their own homes would be against the law within a safe access zone and that people were encouraged to report anyone they thought guilty of “thought crime.” This has never been true.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater condemned Vance’s comments and the planned anti-choice protests outside hospitals.
In her first question to the First Minister, Ms Slater said:
“This week, US Vice President JD Vance has spread misinformation about laws made in this Scottish Parliament.
“His claims about my colleague Gillian Mackay’s Safe Access Zones Act are grossly misleading.
“Emboldened by Mr Vance’s comments, anti-choice groups have already started to target patients outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow, with more actions planned in coming weeks.
“Last summer, members of this Parliament agreed overwhelmingly that everyone should be able to access abortion services free from harassment.
“What is the First Minister doing to correct false claims and provide clarity to the public on what the buffer zones mean for them, and how will he protect safe access to healthcare in Scotland?”
Following the First Minister’s response, in which he emphasised his support for safe access zones, Ms Slater urged the First Minister to back representations to the White House to correct the record.
In her second question, Ms Slater said:
“The White House manufactures mistruths, tech billionaires profit from them and bad faith actors spread them: disinformation is playing an increasingly dangerous role in our communities and in global politics.
“Promoting lies and misinformation, at home and abroad, can have serious consequences for all our communities. Friendly countries do not tell lies about each other.
“Does the First Minister agree that political leaders everywhere must stand up to disinformation - and will he ask Keir Starmer to demand an urgent apology from the White House when the Prime Minister meets Trump next week?”