Musk’s comments on Labour minister Phillips were ‘reprehensible’ – Swinney

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Elon Musk’s comments about Jess Phillips were “reprehensible”, John Swinney has said, as he suggested rules about foreign donations to UK political parties should be tightened. The First Minister also criticised the tech billionaire for offering “glib” populist solutions to society’s issues after Mr Musk weighed in on UK politics in recent days. “Those solutions are not always straightforward and they’re certainly not as glib as populists like Elon Musk would suggest they are.” Mr Swinney also said there should be no external interference in Scottish politics “whether it comes from London or the United States or Russia or anywhere else”. He also said: “What I heard and saw being said about Jess Phillips I thought was completely and utterly reprehensible.” Responding to the First Minister’s speech, Reform UK’s Scottish spokesman Martyn Greene said: “The SNP’s failure to address Scotland’s real issues—underfunded services, a bloated public sector and a stagnant economy—is precisely what fuels public disillusionment.