SWINNEY TALKS 'FLOUTED PEACE PACT ON TROUBLES'

Sinn Fein leader confirms First Minister discussed constitutional change on visit

- BY BEN BORLAND AND DAVID WALKER

JOHN SWINNEY is facing claims he breached two international agreements by holding “secret talks” on the constitution with two Irish politicians.

Furious Scottish Conservative MP John Cooper has written to Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn to complain in the strongest terms about the First Minister's taxpayer-funded visit to Dublin last November.

As well as meeting new Irish President Catherine Connolly, Mr Swinney, above, also had talks with Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. She later confirmed they discussed “constitutional change” - which would be a breach of the post-Brexit Windsor Framework and the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland.

Mr Cooper, who has raised the issue in the House of Commons, attempted to find out more details with a freedom of information request to the Scottish Government but said the response was “heavily redacted”.

He was also informed by the Foreign Office that no UK Government officials were present.

The Foreign Office also told Mr Cooper: "Under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, the devolved governments are entitled to have discussions with Ireland on matters within devolved competence."

In his letter to Mr Benn, the Dumfries and Galloway MP asks: "Given we know the constitutional aims of both the Scottish National Party and Sinn Fein are the shattering of the United Kingdom by the removal of both Scotland and Northern Ireland from Britain, are you like me deeply concerned that: