Scottish and UK Government row over cost of Trump visit

Scottish and UK ministers are in a row about who should cover costs incurred during President Donald Trump’s visit over the summer.

The Scottish Government has urged the UK Government to reimburse the provisional £24.5m bill.

But the UK Government has said it is only responsible for covering the costs of official state visits – and as this was a private holiday, the burden falls on the Scottish Government.

The US president was in the UK at the end of July, during which time he visits his golf courses in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with the president in Scotland and took part in a joint press conference. First Minister John Swinney also met with him.

But Trump’s official state visit was not until September, with the July trip deemed a private visit.

However, Scottish ministers argue the trip, as well as a holiday by Vice President JD Vance, were “working visits” as the pair did undertake meetings with UK politicians.

Public finance minister Ivan McKee said it was “completely unacceptable” that the UK Government would not meet the costs.

He added: “These visits were significant in terms of UK Government international relations, with the prime minister formally meeting the president during his visit in two separate locations in Scotland. The costs cannot be deemed solely a matter for the Scottish Government.

“The finance secretary has urged the chief secretary to the Treasury to reconsider this decision and to confirm that the UK Government will provide full funding for the costs, recognising the international nature of the events and the precedent set by previous presidential visits to Scotland.

“We continue to engage with the UK Government to secure the necessary compensation for these costs which were clearly not just for a private visit as they are claiming.”

The Scottish Government estimates Trump’s visit cost Police Scotland £21m, while an extra £0.3m was provided to NHS Grampian, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, South Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

For the vice president’s visit, it estimates Police Scotland used an extra £3.1m.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray has said the UK Government is not liable given policing is devolved.

He said: “The UK Government only pays for security costs when the visit is an official visit on the back of a formal invitation and that wasn't the case this time.”