SNP politician blasted over 'tone deaf' attempt to use Ukraine war to push Scots independence


SNP politician forced to make grovelling apology for ‘utterly tone deaf’ attempt to use Ukraine’s emergency attempt to join the European Union amid the Russian invasion to justify Nicola Sturgeon’s Scottish independence push

  • SNP’s Michelle Thomson drew link between the war and Scottish independence
  • President Zolensky last night signed a request for Ukraine to join the EU
  • Scottish politician tweeted: ‘It just goes to show what political will can achieve’


A Scottish nationalist politician has been forced to make a grovelling apology after using the Russian invasion of Ukraine to justify her party’s drive for Scottish independence.

The SNP’s Michelle Thomson drew a link between Kyiv’s emergency attempt to join the European Union and her party’s hopes of rejoining the bloc if they break up the UK. 

The SNP wants a new independence referendum in Scotland, having failed to win one in 2014.

President Zolensky last night signed a request for Ukraine to join the EU ‘immediately’ as troops resisted a fierce onslaught.

As desperate Ukrainian leaders used all levers at their disposal with Russian troops over-running their country, she tweeted: Delighted for Ukraine. It just goes to show what political will can achieve. Remember this Scotland!’

Her remarks were immediately condemned by the SNP’s political opponents, with Tory MSP Annie Wells saying it was ‘utterly tone deaf’ and colleague Stephen Kerr adding: ‘This is not normal behaviour for a political party.’

Later, Ms Thomson deleted her tweet and write: ‘I noted and then tweeted something earlier that was insensitive regarding Ukraine. Like everyone, my first thoughts are sympathy for the people there. Apologies if I offended anyone.’

The SNP's Michelle Thomson drew a link between Kyiv's emergency attempt to join the European Union and her party's hopes of rejoining the bloc if they break up the UK.

The SNP’s Michelle Thomson drew a link between Kyiv’s emergency attempt to join the European Union and her party’s hopes of rejoining the bloc if they break up the UK.

President Zolensky last night signed a request for Ukraine to join the EU 'immediately' as troops resisted a fierce onslaught.

President Zolensky last night signed a request for Ukraine to join the EU ‘immediately’ as troops resisted a fierce onslaught.

Later, Ms Thomson deleted her tweet and write: 'I noted and then tweeted something earlier that was insensitive regarding Ukraine. Like everyone, my first thoughts are sympathy for the people there. Apologies if I offended anyone.'

Later, Ms Thomson deleted her tweet and write: ‘I noted and then tweeted something earlier that was insensitive regarding Ukraine. Like everyone, my first thoughts are sympathy for the people there. Apologies if I offended anyone.’

It came as Belarusian troops joined in the invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv said a 40-mile Russian convoy was baring down on the capital amid warnings that Putin will now use ‘medieval tactics’ to try and force a bloody victory after being handed a series of embarrassing defeats in the opening days of the war.

Vitaliy Kyrylov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s North Territorial Defense Forces, said that Minsk’s men had entered the city of Chernihiv, north-east Ukraine, on Tuesday morning. Dictator Alexander Lukashenko acknowledged sending ‘rapid deployment groups’ to the border ‘to stop any military action against Belarus’, without acknowledging that his men had joined the attack.

It came as a convoy of hundreds of Russian tanks, artillery pieces and trucks was pictured snaking its way towards Kyiv, leading to fears that its mission will be to surround the city, besiege it, and bomb it into submission as Russian forces did in Syria while fighting alongside Bashar al-Assad’s forces.

Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, said Russian forces may also try to spark a food crisis by cutting off supplies to major cities as pictures showed some store shelves already running empty in the capital. He said the military may have to step in to ensure everyone has access to food.

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