# Miliband rejects calls to restrict Swinney’s overseas visits

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/tories-hit-out-at-ed-miliband-as-he-refuses-to-take-action-on-john-swinneys-overseas-trips/
- Published: 2026-10-28T19:28:40+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-28T19:53:18+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16246955/Tories-hit-Ed-Miliband-refuses-action-John-Swinneys-overseas-trips.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Entertainment, Music, World

## Key points

- Miliband says Swinney can continue making overseas visits.
- Cooper challenges Foreign Office support for the trips.
- Swinney’s US flights previously cost taxpayers nearly £45,000.

## Summary

Ed Miliband has declined calls to restrict John Swinney’s overseas visits, saying the Scottish First Minister “can have his visits”. The response has drawn criticism from Conservative MP John Cooper, who argues that the trips risk undermining devolution and using public money for matters reserved to the UK Government.

Cooper questioned Foreign Office support for Swinney’s Dublin visit, where he met Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and discussed issues including the break-up of Britain. Swinney also travelled to India on a trade mission, shortly after a UK Government trip promoting Scottish exports such as salmon and whisky; critics called his visit a “photo op”. The article also notes that Swinney faced criticism in June for nearly £45,000 in taxpayer-funded business-class flights for himself and two aides to attend Scotland’s opening World Cup match in the United States.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.