First Minister's statement on asylum protesters: FOI release
- Published
- 16 February 2026
- Directorate
- Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate
- Topic
- Equality and rights, Public sector
- FOI reference
- FOI/202500497058
- Date received
- 6 December 2025
- Date responded
- 8 January 2026
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
You asked for the meaning of a photograph of the First Minister and text published by STV news in relation to asylum protests.
Response
The photograph and associated text you included in your correspondence appear to be reporting by STV news. This is likely to be associated with the First Minister attending and speaking at the Scottish Trades Union Congress’s Anti-racism rally in Glasgow on 29 November and subsequent media interviews undertaken that day.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. The Scottish Government does not hold information relating to reporting by STV, including decisions on use of photographs or text in reporting and the associated meaning.
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.
You may find the full STV news article helpful, this is available on their website: Asylum hotel protests ‘racist’, says Swinney | STV News
You may also wish to contact STV who may be able to help you. Details on how to contact STV are available on their website: STV | Contact | STV
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG