During an interview on BBC Radio Scotland the leader of the Scottish National Party in the House of Commons, Stephen Flynn, rejected calls to boycott the World Cup as a reaction to US tariff threats. He argued that such a symbolic move would achieve little against the president’s proposal to impose a ten‑percent duty on Britain and other allies unless they accept his plan to take control of Greenland.
Flynn described the current circumstances as highly serious, saying they go beyond symbolic actions and require a coordinated response from European nations and Canada. He highlighted that Canada has already demonstrated the type of alliance‑building needed to counter the president’s demands.
He warned that a World Cup boycott would be a minor issue compared with the larger economic and security challenges posed by the tariff threat. While some observers suggest the president might be interested in a boycott, Flynn believes a reciprocal response would be more likely to attract his attention.
The SNP leader stressed the importance of unity across Europe and the West in dealing with broader conflicts, including the war in Ukraine. He said it is necessary to prevent a strongman from prevailing and to act together to demonstrate strength that the president would understand.