Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 18 February 2026 [Draft]
18 Feb 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Airports (US Military Use)
Greens around the world are very clear that we do not support the proliferation of nuclear weapons, but that is not what we are debating today. We are debating the routine use of public airports for military actions. We absolutely need co-operation on the world stage, but that does not necessarily mean that we need to be in NATO. Given Donald Trump’s actions towards NATO, including removing funding from it and threatening NATO allies, it does not seem as strong as it should be.
Do I need to wind up, Presiding Officer?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20819, in the name of Gillian Mackay, on ending the United States military’s use of Scottish airports.I i...
Gillian Mackay (Central Scotland) (Green)
Green
When Prestwick airport was nationalised, in 2013, the then Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, presented it to the Parliament as an opportunity to revita...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
The member mentioned the seizing of oil tankers. Does she recognise that the seizing of vessels in Russia’s shadow fleet is critical to upholding sanctions a...
Gillian Mackay
Green
I absolutely recognise that, but when vessels come into our waters, our laws apply. Those people were taken in contravention of what the Court of Session sai...
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Does the member recognise that Prestwick airport supports hundreds of jobs and, with it, the Ayrshire economy, and that military contracts are a significant ...
Gillian Mackay
Green
I do not dispute the point that Sharon Dowey makes about jobs, but there is no security for those jobs in basing them—and others in the local economy—on serv...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way?
Gillian Mackay
Green
Yes.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Very briefly, Neil Bibby.
Neil Bibby
Lab
Gillian Mackay talks about Scotland taking its role on the international stage and in the international community. Does that include being a member of the No...
Gillian Mackay
Green
Greens around the world are very clear that we do not support the proliferation of nuclear weapons, but that is not what we are debating today. We are debati...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
I would be grateful if you could begin to wind up.
Gillian Mackay
Green
We must move beyond rhetoric and sentiment on this urgent issue. Evicting the United States Air Force from Prestwick and blocking its passage and refuelling ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
I advise members that what limited time we had in hand has been exhausted, so I will have to require members to stick to their speaking time allocations.15:03
Angus Robertson (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
SNP
Last month, the First Minister set out the fundamental challenge that Scotland faces in the light of what the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has descr...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
The cabinet secretary says that we need to work together with nations who share our values. Professor Phillips O’Brien, whom I know the cabinet secretary is ...
Angus Robertson
SNP
I am glad that the Greens have finally raised Ukraine and Russia in the debate. I will come on to the United States in a moment.Next week, as I mentioned, it...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Angus Robertson
SNP
I will not take an intervention at this time. I have already taken one.There is no doubt that the Maduro regime in Venezuela was illegitimate. However, as th...
Ross Greer
Green
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Angus Robertson
SNP
I have already said that I am not taking further interventions.We disagreed fundamentally with the US in relation to Greenland, and we spoke against threats ...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I was astonished but maybe not surprised to see the Scottish Green Party’s motion. It is like being back at a student union debate, with ranting about issues...
Ross Greer
Green
Will the member give way?
Murdo Fraser
Con
I am sorry, Mr Greer, but I have only four minutes, due to the Greens’ scheduling of the debate.Where is the attack on Russia and on the evil Putin regime, w...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Murdo Fraser will be aware of the vibrant engineering cluster at Prestwick airport, which is employing thousands and looking to create up to an additional 1,...
Murdo Fraser
Con
Mr Whittle makes an excellent point. If only we were more grown-up in this debate, that is what we could be discussing.What concerns me is that the very same...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Last week, when I saw that we were due to debate external affairs, I certainly did not think that we would be debating a Scottish Green motion that would evi...
Ross Greer
Green
Will the member take an intervention?
Neil Bibby
Lab
I will not take one now, but I will try to do so in my closing speech.The one airport that is mentioned in the Scottish Greens’ motion on ending US military ...
Ross Greer
Green
Will the member give way?