Swinney would 'consider' US military plane ban from Prestwick Airport

First Minister John Swinney has said he would consider banning US military aircraft from using Prestwick Airport if it was confirmed they were involved in strikes in the Middle East.

Swinney has previously said he was "concerned" by the US and Israeli action against Iran and did not believe it conformed with an "international rules-based system".

He told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg he was seeking clarity from the UK government about the role of US planes using the South Ayrshire airport, which is owned by the Scottish government.

Pressed on whether he would ban such aircraft, he said: "I will consider that based on the evidence that's provided to me."

Prestwick Airport was nationalised by the Scottish government in 2013.

The majority of its flights now are cargo services but hundreds of flights in recent years have also involved the US military.

At First Minister's Questions on Thursday, the Scottish Greens said 24 US military planes had landed at the airport in the week prior to the action against Iran, representing a significant increase.

Co-leader Ross Greer accused Swinney of "sitting on his hands" and urged him to follow the example of Spain by banning them.

It was "abundantly obvious" what the latest US flights were being used for, Greer said.

Swinney was pressed on the issue by the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday.

He replied: "We're seeking clarity from the United Kingdom government about the purpose of American flights that are coming in and out of Prestwick, but we don't have the ability to scrutinise those flights."

The first minister said there were American aircraft going through Prestwick to the Middle East but he could make no judgement until he had clarity from the UK government about their purpose.

Asked if he would ban them if it was confirmed they were involved with the Middle East operation, Swinney said:" I will consider that based on the evidence that's provided to me."

The BBC has contacted the Ministry of Defence to ask whether it could provide such clarity.

The Scottish government faced similar questions over the use of Prestwick Airport after it emerged than an Israeli air force plane had refuelled there in November 2023.

At the time, it said the airport operated on a commercial basis and at arms-length from the government, making its own operational decisions.

However, Greer claimed in the Scottish Parliament that Israeli military planes were now banned from using the airport.