Play all audios:
EXCLUSIVE: SANDRA WHITE SAID THE SNP FIRST MINISTER HAD MADE THE "WRONG CALL" IN SENDING A MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY ON BURNS. 09:52, 28 Jan 2025Updated 09:54, 28 Jan 2025 A
former SNP MSP has been criticised after she pulled up John Swinney over a solidarity message to Ukraine. Sandra White accused the First Minister of “taking sides” after he praised Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his admiration of celebrated poet Robert Burns. Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: “Sandra White seems to have a pretty misguided idea of
'taking sides'. "We should be free to voice our support for Ukraine and celebrate our cultural ties. None of that discounts the suffering endured by the Russian people or the
bravery of the Russian dissidents who have spoken out against the tyranny of Putin’s regime. We must stand in solidarity with Ukraine and all those who have bravely defied Putin." READ
MORE: Five times the SNP Government pledged to save our NHS in the pastREAD MORE: The SNP will lose the Holyrood election if the NHS is the top issue of voters Swinney and the other leaders
of Scotland’s mainstream political parties have been united in their condemnation of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. On January 25th, a day on which many people around the world
celebrate Burns’ birthday, Swinney took to X to back Zelenskyy. Swinney wrote: “Today @ZelenskyyUa marks his birthday which he shares with our National Bard #RobertBurns. The President is a
great admirer of the work of Burns. So from Scotland to Ukraine we send solidarity and support and an appreciation of the enduring power of Burns.” He finished his tweet with an image of
Ukraine’s flag, but White criticised him and his special advisers, otherwise known as spads. Article continues below She tweeted: “Wrong call John have a word with your Spads its not about
taking sides Russia has been an advocate for our Bard 1st country to dedicate a postage stamp to him 1956.” Users of the X platform responded to White, who was an MSP in Glasgow between 1999
and 2021. One wrote: “What are you on about?” Another said: “Michty me what a daft thing to say.” Article continues below Scottish Tory MSP Annie Wells said: “This is a shameful post from a
senior SNP figure. ” TO SIGN UP TO THE DAILY RECORD POLITICS NEWSLETTER, CLICK HERE