First minister rejected meeting on tanker seizure, says Alexander

First Minister John Swinney did not accept a briefing on the use of a Scottish airport for a US-led military operation, UK Labour minister Douglas Alexander has said.

Swinney has criticised "absolutely appalling" communication from the UK government after a Russian-flagged oil tanker was captured by the US and moored in Scottish waters.

He claimed Alexander, the Scottish secretary, had taken a "juvenile" approach to a request for information about the Marinera, which the United States accused of breaking its sanctions by carrying oil for Venezuela, Russia and Iran.

However, Alexander said that he wrote to the SNP leader last week to offer him a meeting, but he did not accept.

Joining Defence Secretary John Healey on a visit to the Leonardo factory in Edinburgh, Alexander added: "But these issues are far, far too important to be subject to party politics."

Healey also warned that the SNP's long-held opposition to nuclear weapons risked "jeopardising" national security in "an era of rising threat".

The Marinera, previously known as Bella 1, was boarded while south of Iceland earlier this month before it was moved to the Moray Firth.

BBC Scotland understands that it will be taken to the United States.

Ahead of the operation to seize the vessel, US special operations planes were spotted at Wick John O'Groats airport, along with several other military aircraft around Scotland.

Swinney, speaking to reporters at Holyrood, claimed that the "the flow of communication" between the Scottish and UK governments during the Marinera incident had been "absolutely appalling".

He said it was "incredibly difficult" to engage the UK government on "significant" security issues.

The SNP leader said that he had asked Alexander for a "detailed briefing" about the Marinera, saying that law officers in Scotland had a clear responsibility for tankers in Scottish waters.

He told reporters: "I got a reply from Douglas Alexander which basically told me that this whole issue was none of my business.

"So if that's what Mr Alexander is suggesting, is an invitation to dialogue, I suggest he goes and redrafts his letters before he sends them to me."

The first minister said he was "so dissatisfied with the juvenile content of Mr Alexander's letter" that he wrote to the prime minister.

He added: "I've now had a reply from the prime minister which offers me the dialogue and security information that I believe is necessary for the first minister of Scotland to have and I will pursue that."

Swinney also rejected the accusation from Healey that the Scottish government's opposition to nuclear weapons jeopardises national security.

The first minister previously said he would have expected the Scottish government to be "fully sighted" on security issues affecting Scotland's waters.

He said he was "deeply concerned" when the Marinera was taken to the Moray Firth as it was being escorted by the US military.

Alexander said it was "very clear" that defence and foreign affairs were under the control of the UK government under devolved power arrangements.