John Swinney set to hold series of talks in US as he arrives in country for World Cup

The First Minister will today meet business leaders, tour Harvard University and hold talks with Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu and Governor of Massachusetts Maura Healey.

But critics insisted taxpayers should not foot the bill for Mr Swinney’s “trip to go and join the Tartan Army across the pond”.

Maree Todd, the SNP minister for sport, will also travel to the US to attend the Scotland v Brazil match in Miami.

Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn and community care minister Alison Thewliss have been given special permission to attend the World Cup in a personal capacity.

READ MORE: The Scotsman World Cup show: Watch and listen as new podcast launched to mark Scotland's return

In 2022, Mr Swinney criticised Tory MSPs Murdo Fraser and Dean Lockhart for flying to Spain to watch Rangers play in the Europa League final during the Holyrood term.

Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr said: “Hard-pressed taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for John Swinney’s trip to go and join the Tartan Army across the pond.

“It’s the height of hypocrisy given he couldn’t wait to express his outrage at other MSPs previously for doing exactly what he is going to do.

“Everyone is delighted Scotland will once again be on the World Cup stage, but John Swinney should have paid for this out of his own pocket as he escapes the sleaze and scandal surrounding him back home.”

Mr Swinney was invited by Fifa to attend the Scotland v Haiti match as part of a delegation with the Scottish Football Association (SFA).

On Friday, he will be taken on a private tour of Harvard University to “strengthen” its existing relationships with Scottish institutions.

He will then visit Boston City Hall where he will be welcomed by Ms Wu.

The Scottish government said their bilateral meeting will focus on strengthening cultural and economic ties between Boston and Scotland, “specifically cultivating partnerships in shared areas of interest including finance, education, healthcare and biotechnology”.

The First Minister will later meet Ms Healey ahead of hosting a Brand Scotland reception in partnership with the SFA.

On Friday evening he will attend a special dinner and gala event, hosted by the David Yarrow Foundation in aid of Street Soccer Scotland, which will include an on-stage Q&A involving the comedians Fred MacAulay and Greg Hemphill.

Mr Swinney’s engagements on Saturday include a Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal presentation and joining a “fan festival” at the City Hall, before attending Scotland v Haiti.

On Sunday, he is due to visit the Museum of African American History.

It came as the SNP government made a £400,000 donation to a Scottish football fan who is walking 3,000 miles across the US.

Craig Ferguson set off from Los Angeles in February in the hopes of making it to Boston ahead of the Haiti match, due to take place on Saturday evening local time.

Mr Ferguson aims to raise £1 million for Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) as a result of the walk.

Ahead of leaving for the US, Mr Swinney said: “I met Craig before he headed out to Los Angeles to begin his mammoth trek across the United States and I was struck by his tenacity, ingenuity and genuine passion – both as a Scotland fan and a campaigner for mental health.

“I have been hugely impressed by Craig’s inspirational campaign to raise funds for SAMH, one of Scotland’s leading mental health charities.

“The work such charities do across the country is both life-changing and live-saving, and this funding will help SAMH to continue that important work – including to deliver their new drop-in mental health centres, which my government is keen to support.

“The Tartan Army are such a wonderful advert for Scotland, and I am proud that we have people like Craig representing our country in America as our men’s national team take to the stage for their first World Cup finals in almost 30 years.”

Billy Watson, the chief executive of SAMH, said: “Craig’s efforts to raise awareness of mental health problems and money for SAMH have been absolutely extraordinary.

“He is a football fan, a member of the Tartan Army, who decided he could help and has quite literally come down the road in the most spectacular fashion.

“We’re hugely grateful to Craig, and to the First Minister and the Scottish Government for their support for Craig and SAMH, and we look forward to working with them to roll out The Nook across Scotland.”

The Nook is a walk-in mental health service, based in Glasgow and operated by SAMH.

The charity hopes to expand the project, with plans to open a centre in Aberdeen this month and Edinburgh in the early part of next year.