'Sinn Fein are an elected administration in Northern Ireland, and I deal with elected politicians': Scotland first minister John Swinney says he has no intention of apologising for urging people to 'move on' from the Troubles

Scotland’s first minister was speaking to The Herald newspaper last week after his party’s election victory and was asked about potential dealings with Sinn Fein.

Mr Swinney recognised his dealings with the party, whose vice president Michelle O’Neill is first minister of Northern Ireland, had caused some “media consternation”, but he added: “I really do think people have got to move on.”

Families of Scots killed in the Troubles hit out at the comments, telling the same newspaper Mr Swinney should apologise.

But speaking to the Press Association on Monday, Mr Swinney said: “I have no intention of apologising for that.

“Sinn Fein are an elected administration in Northern Ireland, and I deal with elected politicians.”

Asked if his language was simply sloppy in his comments to The Herald, Mr Swinney added: “I think the issues that are involved in the peace process have involved people moving on, people have had to move on, that’s exactly what they’ve done, and I’m simply reflecting what’s happened.”

Following this month’s election, the largest parties in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland support leaving the UK, which has sparked co-operation between the SNP, Sinn Fein and Plaid Cymru.

“I am very happy to take forward collaboration with Sinn Fein and with Plaid Cymru as administrations led by nationalists who want to take forward their agenda,” Mr Swinney said.

“There is a lot that has happened in the years since the Troubles came to an end with the Good Friday Agreement.

“I respect entirely anybody who has suffered as a consequence of the Troubles, I respect what they have experienced and in no way does the political co-operation that I would take forward today undermine the respect I have for those individuals.”