Leading nationalists have criticised the foreign secretary for introducing “backward” and “unnecessary” guidelines that insist overseas governments must contact UK ambassadors if they want to meet SNP ministers.
James Cleverly has written to senior British diplomats asking them to take a “firm approach” to ensure the Scottish government is not using overseas visits to promote independence and undermine UK policy.
He has also ruled that all meetings involving SNP ministers and overseas governments must be organised through the Foreign Office and attended by UK officials.
Stewart McDonald, SNP MP for Glasgow South and a former member of Westminster’s foreign affairs committee, said that Cleverly’s letter was embarrassing and an attempt to solve a problem that did not exist.
“This idea that Scottish ministers are trotting
