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<\/source><\/p>\nThe South Scotland MSP, who has recently joined the Reform UK party, said Scotland has “similar issues” to the ones in the US. ITV’s Peter Macmahon asked Michelle Ballantyne: “The leader of your new party of Nigel Farage. He said of Donald Trump ‘he is the single most brave person I have ever met in my life. Do you agree with him?”<\/p>\n
Speaking to ITV’s Representing Border, Ms Ballantyne said: “I think Nigel was making a statement at the time about what he thought about President Trump’s actions.<\/p>\n
“If you look at what he’s saying about what happened in Capitol hill, Nigel no more supports that then any of us do.<\/p>\n
“He thinks it’s terrible. It’s just very easy to get bogged down in other people’s arguments.<\/p>\n
“My concern is what’s happening in Scotland and what needs doing in Scotland.<\/p>\n
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“We have a similar issue here.<\/p>\n
“We have one party, one person, who’s trying to dominate everything and trying to make decisions about what happens to Scotland in the future.<\/p>\n
“I could argue that we’ve got exactly the same problem here and we need to be careful.”<\/p>\n
It comes as Donald Trump will not be visiting Scotland ahead of inauguration day, the PA news agency understands.<\/p>\n
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There had been speculation that the US president would visit his Turnberry golf resort in South Ayrshire ahead of Joe Biden taking office at the White House next Wednesday.<\/p>\n
But PA now understands Mr Trump will not be in Scotland.<\/p>\n
As part of the tradition, the outgoing president and president-elect usually travel together to the ceremony at the Capitol from the White House.<\/p>\n
But Mr Trump, who was overwhelmingly defeated in November’s US election, has previously said he will not attend the January 20 ceremony for his successor.<\/p>\n
DON’T MISS<\/strong><\/p>\n Labour CRUMBLING: Keir Starmer dealt major blow<\/span><\/span> [INSIGHT]<\/strong> The 74-year-old was reportedly considering travelling to Turnberry to avoid seeing Mr Biden being sworn into office.<\/p>\n Prestwick Airport was told to expect the arrival of a US military Boeing 757 aircraft previously used by Mr Trump on January 19, according to the Sunday Post.<\/p>\n But First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has in recent days stressed it is illegal to travel in or out of Scotland without a valid reason, adding: “Coming to play golf is not what I would consider to be an essential purpose.”<\/p>\n When asked about the speculation, she said: “I have no idea what Donald Trump’s travel plans are, you’ll be glad to know.<\/p>\n “I hope and expect that – as everybody expects, not everybody necessarily will hope – that the travel plan immediately that he has is to exit the White House. But beyond that I don’t know.”<\/p>\n
Nicola Sturgeon announces extension to Scotland’s national lockdown<\/span><\/strong><\/span> [VIDEO]<\/strong>
Nicola Sturgeon faces embarrassing questions after emails leaked<\/span><\/span> [ANALYSIS]<\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/Donald-Trump-news-2859856.jpg?r=1611080042810\")
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