A SCOTTISH Cabinet minister has defended the First Minister’s appearance at a state banquet honouring US President Donald Trump after an SNP MP branded attendance “conceding that it’s acceptable to support genocide in Gaza.”

The comment came in a social media post — since deleted — from SNP MP Chris Law after the UN Human Rights Council concluded Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland the morning after the Windsor Castle jamboree, however, Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “The Scottish government’s position on the suffering, the genocide in Gaza is very, very clear and we are playing our part to step up, call for justice, call for an end to that suffering and doing practical endeavours.”

Referring to the recent arrival of two children and their families from Gaza to receive NHS Scotland care, she said: “Only this week we are seeing those that have been hurt and injured coming to Scotland.”

Addressing the criticism of Mr Swinney directly, she added: “People in Scotland also expect our First Minister to be representing Scotland at an international level, that is in the interests of all us.”