US vice president JD Vance has been condemned for his “lies about Scotland” ahead of a luxury holiday to Ayrshire.
Donald Trump’s second-in-command is set to arrive at Prestwick Airport today according to reports.
Police Scotland have prepared a "significant policing operation” to secure a luxury estate in Ayrshire that he is reportedly set to stay at.
Vance was widely condemned for comments earlier this year in which he claimed Scots who pray in their homes could be prosecuted after the recent introduction of buffer zones around Scottish abortion clinics.
Vance used a speech in Munich to argue Europe was seeing a shift away from democratic values and claimed the “basic liberties of religious Britons, in particular” are under threat, citing the Scottish Government law as an example.
The buffer zone legislation passed the Scottish Parliament in a historic moment last year, and sees anti-abortion protests within 200m of abortion service providers banned.
The law does not prohibit anyone from praying within their own homes, as Vance claimed.
Today, the annual US State Department assessment, which analyses human rights conditions worldwide, also hit out at what it described as “serious restrictions” on freedom of expression in the UK.
The report specifically said laws limiting speech around abortion clinics, pointing to “safe access zones” curbed expression, including silent protests and prayer.
But Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay (above) – who spearheaded the abortion buffer zones legislation – has now hit out at Vance as he is set to arrive in Scotland.
“JD Vance has made a career of spreading misinformation and sowing mistrust in order to gain power and influence. The Vice President’s absurd lies haven’t just been about eating cats and dogs in Ohio; he has lied about Scotland,” she said.
“Earlier this year, JD Vance made false claims on an international stage about Scotland’s buffer zones law, which prevents harassment and intimidation of patients outside abortion clinics, a bill proudly passed by the Scottish Greens.”
Mackay added: “Now, whilst his extremist government is attacking LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, illegally arresting innocent civilians on the streets, arming Israel’s genocide in Gaza and wrecking our climate, he thinks that he can peacefully run away from it all to enjoy a holiday in our country.
“Let’s set this clear: the toxic misinformation of JD Vance is a threat to democracy and freedom around the world.”
