HAS Scottish Tory MP Ross Thomson gone rogue? He is seemingly working unofficially on trade deals with the Japanese government.
The enthusiastic Brexiteer, who represents Aberdeen South at Westminster, has teamed up with two other members of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s right-wing European Research Group on a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.
READ MORE: Tory Government's holiday location choices reveal a Brexit trend
A series of tweets showed Thomson, along with fellow Tory MPs Ranil Jayawardena and Chris Green, meeting a number of mid-level Japanese politicians.
READ MORE: Twitter reacts to Tory MP Ross Thomson's bizarre vacuum claims
Thomson arrived in Tokyo yesterday, telling his social media followers that he was “looking forward to discussing the opportunities for our post Brexit trading relationship, closer cooperation on security and the potential to strengthen links with Aberdeen on energy, innovation and technology”.
He met with Yasushi Masaki, the director general of the European Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and “discussed Brexit, Trade, economic issues, immigration and our different political systems amongst so much more”.
Thomson also reported that he had had an “insightful breakfast” with Yasutoshi Nishimura, the influential deputy chief cabinet secretary in President Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democrat party.
The Tory MPs also met Daisaku Hiraki, Japan’s parliamentary vice-minister of economy, trade and industry, to “talk about the new future trading relationship between the U.K. and Japan,” according to Thomson.
He added: “We also discussed the U.K. joining the TPP. He is also extremely keen to visit #Aberdeen!”
It’s understood Thomson and the others were invited by the Japanese Embassy.
A Tory source told The National: “The focus of the trip is mostly on trade and economic links. There has also been promotion of links to universities, such as Robert Gordon in Ross’s constituency.”
Earlier this year Thomson caused a diplomatic incident during a trip to Iraq when he made light of Saddam Hussein’s brutal regime.
An SNP source said: “Ross Thomson might think he’s important by playing at trade deal talks across the world – but the reality is if people like him are representing the UK abroad in any shape or form then we should all be worried.”
The Japanese embassy did not respond to requests for a comment.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel