Keir Starmer dismisses latest SNP independence push as 'politics of yesteryear' during Donald Trump meeting

It came as US President Donald Trump said he did not want to get involved in the debate but suggested not enough time had passed since the last vote.

The two leaders were asked about the issue during a press conference at Trump Turnberry in Ayrshire, where they have been holding bilateral talks.

Mr Swinney has said there should be a “legal referendum recognised by all” on Scottish independence if the SNP secures a majority at the Holyrood election next year.

This marks a shift from his party’s previous position, which simply focused on the need for a “pro-independence” majority, including other parties such as the Greens.

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The First Minister said a “logjam” currently exists, adding: “We demonstrated how we break the logjam in the past, by electing a majority of SNP MSPs in 2011, and that led to an independence referendum in 2014.”

Asked about the issue, Mr Trump, who had earlier spoken about his love for and connection to Scotland, where his mother was born, said: “I don’t want to get involved in your politics. We’ve got enough politics of our own.”

However, referring to the last referendum, the US President said: “I do say that when they made that deal, somebody said that it was - and I remember this very distinctly, I said, ‘Could they do this all the time?’ - there was a little bit of a restriction like 50 or 75 years before you could take another vote. Because you know, a country can’t go through that too much.

“I don’t know the First Minister but I’ve heard great things about him. I’ve spoken to him. I hear very good things about him, and I’m meeting him today, so maybe I’ll have a better opinion then.”

Mr Swinney and Sir Keir are both due to attend a private dinner with the President in Aberdeenshire on Monday evening.

Addressing journalists, Sir Keir said: “I believe in a stronger Scotland in a better United Kingdom. I think that at a time like this, when it’s quite clear that there’s uncertainty and volatility around the world, the strength of the United Kingdom together is very important for all four nations, very important for Scotland.

“That should be our priority, that should be our focus, not on the politics which feels like the politics of yesteryear now, at a time like this.

“I think the First Minister should probably focus more on his delivery in Scotland than on his constitutional issues, and we might have a better health service in Scotland.

“At a time like this, I think the United Kingdom is always stronger as four nations. I think that’s better for all four nations. I think that’s how Scotland is stronger.”

The Prime Minister pointed to the US-UK trade deal as an example of this. “That is what the United Kingdom can do when we act as a powerful set of four nations together, and there are very many other examples,” he said.