First Minister John Swinney met Sir Keir Starmer, the Irish Taoiseach and the leaders of the devolved nations in Edinburgh today for talks on financing the energy transition and climate change.

Mr Swinney used the meeting of the British-Irish Council to emphasise the need to share knowledge and to impress on the UK Prime Minister the opportunities that exist in Scotland if investment flows north of the border.

Mr Swinney raised the two-child cap on benefits after telling MSPs yesterday that he will impress on Downing Street the need to scrap it to help ease child poverty. After their meeting at Dalmahoy Hotel Mr Swinney said the prime minister indicated that he would work constructively with him on taking forward that commitment.

The council was formally established following the Good Friday Agreement in 1999 and brings together political leaders from London, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey.

Mr Swinney said: “As we reflect on 25 years, it is testament to the value of the British-Irish Council that the partnership conceived a quarter of a century ago has prevailed in the midst of unprecedented change and challenge.

“The meeting in Edinburgh provides a forum for us to discuss the greatest challenge facing the next 25 years that of climate change and delivering a just transition. The need to share our knowledge, our efforts and our actions is no less urgent today than it was when the first British-Irish Council meeting was held in 1999.

“As First Minister of Scotland, achieving a just transition is integral to the four main priorities of my government. Scotland needs to attract investment to tackle climate change and grasp the opportunities of that journey to Net Zero in a way that grows our economy and helps provide investment to tackle child poverty and improve public services.”

The following political leaders attended the meeting in Edinburgh: