Image source, PA Media

The spat over who should take credit for Trump's decision to lift all the whisky tariffs is dominating the campaign trail today.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie says: "John Swinney and the SNP's record is so dismal that they are now trying to claim credit for work they are not responsible for.

"The lifting of tariffs on Scotch Whisky is a great success - but it is clear that this was delivered after months of engagement and diligent work involving UK government negotiators, those in the whisky sector, and our allies in the United States.

She adds it also demonstrates the positive influence of the King when it comes to speaking with world leaders and representing the interests of Scotland and the United Kingdom.

"The SNP cannot only seek to claim credit while refusing to take any responsibility for their own failures in government," Baillie says

Andrew Kerr
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

John Swinney says President Donald Trump sent him a message last night to thank him for his contribution in getting a deal over the line to lift tariffs on whisky being imported into the US.

The first minister and SNP leader was speaking on a visit to Deanston Distillery in Stirlingshire.

He says Donald Trump thanked him for “proposing the route that has allowed this to happen.”

Trump has set out that tariffs depress the Kentucky bourbon trade - as whisky is aged in those casks.

In the message, Swinney says President Trump indicated that his decision was taken because of the relationship with Kentucky and that was significant in his thinking.

Swinney say the deal is good news for Scotland, good news for the Scotch whisky industry and good news for jobs in country and a great outcome has been delivered for Scotland.

Countering Labour and Conservative criticism that the first minister was “taking credit” for the deal, Swinney says “we are in the midst of an election campaign and politicians will say all sorts of things".

However, he also says it is “pretty clear that the issue lifting tariffs on Scotch whisky was nowhere near the top of the agenda until I weighed in on the subject when President Trump came to Scotland last July."

The first minster repeated that he went to the Oval Office with a “constructive solution” on the Kentucky issue which was recognised by the president in his message.

Everyone is keen to say this drink is on thempublished at 11:34 BST

11:34 BST

Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Editor

Three Scottish party leaders have hurriedly altered their campaign plans to reflect the deal to remove tariffs from whisky imports to the US.

Both the SNP’s John Swinney and Labour’s Anas Sarwar have managed to get access to whisky distilleries, while the Conservatives' Russell Findlay is in a bar.

They all have different takes on who deserves credit for persuading the US president to make a special trade arrangement for Scotch.

For Labour, the Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said this was the result of “relentless engagement and negotiation” by the UK government, “opening doors for Scottish exporters across the world”.

To be fair, trade deals are made at UK level and the prime minister himself raised whisky tariffs with President Trump.

The SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney has previously accused the UK government of not giving whisky enough priority in trade talks.

He lobbied the president on his two visits to the UK last year and travelled to Washington to make the case in the Oval Office.

Welcoming the deal, he said that he had made it his “mission to do everything possible to lift US tariffs on our whisky” and that the “hard work has paid off”.

To be fair, Swinney did put in a shift and his statement acknowledges the work of the Scotch Whisky Association and King Charles.

The president himself has said it was the King that persuaded him to change policy in a way that no-one else could.

For the Conservatives, Russell Findlay - who opposes both the UK and Scottish governments - is content with that explanation and argues that John Swinney has a “brass neck” to claim credit.

"The republicans within the SNP would do well to reflect on who we really have to thank,” he said.

It is of course possible that the Crown, two governments and industry bodies on both sides of the Atlantic have all played their part.

John Swinney and Anas Sarwar have both got whisky on their minds this morning - after Donald Trump announced all tariffs and restrictions on whisky imports to the US would be lifted.

SNP leader Swinney is at the Deanston Distillery in Doune, while Scottish Labour leader Sarwar is at Rosebank Distillery in Falkirk.

Image source, Getty images

The final total of voters registered for the Scottish Parliament election is 4,320,981 – a record number for a Scottish Parliament election.

Those planning to vote in person on Thursday 7 May are being encouraged to check their polling place location and to exercise patience if queues form.

Voting should only take a few minutes and there is no requirement to bring photo ID.

Polling stations will be open from 07:00 to 22:00 and anyone in the queue at their polling station at 22:00 will be able to vote.

Malcolm Burr, convener of the Electoral Management Board for Scotland, says: “A significant amount of work has gone into preparing for this election and we are confident that polling day arrangements are robust and ready for this record number of voters.

“If anyone needs additional support on the day, polling staff are there to help. "

The Scottish Socialist Party's manifesto, external presents the party's vision of an "independent, nuclear-free, poverty-free, pollution-free Scottish socialist republic".

That's according to the SSP's election campaign organiser Richie Venton, who says "A Socialist Action Plan" stresses the need to harness the nation's wealth and "make Scotland a force for peace and international co-operation".

Venton says: "We recognise the limits imposed by the straightjacket of devolution and offer an action plan of immediate socialist measures which SSP MSPs would put forward as parliamentary Bills.

"Measures to cut household bills, increase people's incomes, and vastly improve universal public services."

Among the measures in the manifesto are free public transport for all, abolition of the council tax and the building of 100,000 eco-friendly homes.

Gillian Mackay is urging John Swinney to match her party’s ambition for childcare and to back Green policies for the biggest expansion of free care for a generation.

The Scottish Greens co-leader says her party is offering all families in Scotland 1,140 hours of funded childcare from the week after a child turns two, which will be delivered as soon as possible.

She adds they will also invest in staffing and nursery facilities, ensuring that by the end of the parliamentary session, all families with children aged six months to two years old can also access 570 hours of fully funded childcare.

In comparison, Mackay says, the SNP has been light on detail about its plans and has appeared to back a means-tested model.

She adds: "We are urging John Swinney to match our ambition and work with us to deliver the biggest roll-out of free childcare for a generation, ensuring that no child is left behind and that no family falls through the cracks of a means-tested system."

We'll be hearing plenty more about whisky throughout the day but, for now, let's get into the other issues the party leaders are focusing on today.

Aimee Stanton

The Scotch whisky market was worth £5.3bn last year, with the equivalent of 1.34bn 70cl bottles exported to destinations around the world.

Although exports to the USA fell last year, the American market was still the number one export destination (defined by value) in 2025, according to figures published by the Scotch Whisky Association, external.

In total, the US market was worth £933m, followed by France at £404m and India at £286m.

However, based on volume (70cl bottles equivalent) India comes out on top with 220m bottles exported in 2025, followed by France with 152m bottles and the USA with 120m bottles.

Graeme Littlejohn, director of strategy for the Scotch Whisky Association, says the industry body is "delighted" by President Trump's announcement.

"The industry's been losing around £4m a week in lost exports to the United States - £150m over the course of the last year while tariffs have been in place," he told the BBC's Radio Scotland Breakfast programme.

"This is a real boost for the industry and distillers will breathe a sigh of relief now that these tariffs are off.

"It's really thanks to the huge amount of negotiation that's been going on over many months, at a very senior level."

He added: "Perhaps the state visit has been the catalyst for getting this over the line and the King has added that little bit of royal sparkle to make the deal work."

Image source, Getty Images

As we've been reporting this morning, Donald Trump has said he will remove all tariffs and restrictions on whisky imports in honour of King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit to the US.

The US president said he would lift restrictions on Scotland's ability to work with the state of Kentucky on whisky and bourbon.

The UK government confirmed this applies to all whisky tariffs, including on Irish whiskey.

Industry representatives said distillers would be able to "breathe a little easier during a period of significant pressure on the sector".

We'll be asking all the Scottish party leaders for their reaction to the news, as they continue their campaigning with less than a week to go.

Whisky will be the tipple of choice for at least a couple of Scotland's political leaders on the election campaign trail today.

SNP leader John Swinney will visit Deanston Distillery in Doune to mark the removal of US tariffs on Scotch whisky. He will also give a speech pushing for Scottish independence.

Anas Sarwar will also be on the whisky trail when he visits the Rosebank Distillery in Falkirk. The Scottish Labour leader's other focus will be to highlight his party's plans to improve dental care in Scotland.

Scottish Conservatives leader Russell Findlay will be joined by Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride on Princes Street in Edinburgh, where they will criticise the impact of high taxes on businesses. They will then take part in a whisky-themed event at an Edinburgh bar.

Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer will visit Glasgow Kelvin College's Springburn Campus, while continuing to push for a "fairer, greener Scotland".

Alex Cole-Hamilton will visit the Highland Swing in Killiecrankie as the Scottish Liberal Democrats target constituency and regional seats across the Highlands.

Reform UK's leader in Scotland, Malcolm Offord, will be continuing his party's push for votes in Ayr.

Good morning and welcome to our live daily coverage of the Scottish Parliament election campaign on 1 May.

The six larger parties in Scotland will be on the campaign trail and we'll bring you full coverage and analysis throughout the day.

Voters will go to the polls on 7 May to elect 129 members of the Scottish Parliament.