Humza Yousaf blasted Brexit during Cop28 panel in 'breach' of UK Government guidelines
Humza Yousaf criticised Brexit while sitting on a panel at Cop28, in what appears to have been a breach of UK Government guidelines
PA
Humza Yousaf criticised Brexit while sitting on a panel at Cop28, in what appears to have been a breach of UK Government guidelines.
The former first minister visited Dubai in December for the climate summit.
Yousaf spoke on a panel about trade called "International Trade Day Event: Promoting The Use of a Trading System to Scale Up Breakthrough Trade Technologies and Support a Just Transition."
He spoke alongside Dr Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister for Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economy, UAE, a Director General of the World Trade Organisation, the CEO of Gecko Robotics and the CEO of Blue Horizon.
Humza Yousaf criticised Brexit while sitting on a panel at Cop28, in what appears to have been a breach of UK Government guidelines
PA
The event, attended by between 60 to 70 people, saw Yousaf highlight the "negative consequences of the UK and Scotland's withdrawal from the EU".
According to Freedom of Information Requests filed by the Scottish Express, the minutes from the panel read: "The First Minister highlighted the importance of new technologies to achieving net zero and made clear that countries in the global south should have equal access to such technologies.
"Following a question from the audience about barriers to trade the First Minister highlighted the negative consequences of the UK and Scotland’s withdrawal from the European Union."
The Scottish Government has repeatedly clashed with Westminster, with the SNP being accused of overstepping on "reserved" issues.
In October, James Cleverly pulled rank on Yousaf, threatening to block SNP ministers from meeting with foreign officials. This came after the Scottish First Minister blocked UK diplomats from sitting in on a meeting with the Icelandic prime minister in New York.
As well as threatening to stop facilitating meetings between SNP ministers and foreign officials, the Foreign Secretary threatened to humiliate the party on the international stage.
He warned the SNP that his officials will "communicate to host governments that we do not judge it appropriate for them to meet" with SNP ministers unless a diplomat is present.
Cleverly penned a letter to the Scottish External Affairs Secretary, Angus Robertson, in which he expressed his disappointment at the SNP for preventing Foreign Office officials from attending the talks last month, saying it contravened "longstanding" guidance.
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The guidance referred to by Cleverly applies to all ministers in the UK Government and devolved administrations and states that a senior official must be present.
The Foreign Secretary said he puts "enormous importance" on ensuring the UK displays a "coherent and consistent message to our international partners".
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