Swinney says he is concerned his son may one day have to fight

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney told the BBC he is anxious that his teenage son Matthew could one day be drawn into a war, and he cited the invasion of Ukraine and a weakening of the post‑Second World War rules-based international order.

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney said he is concerned his teenage son, Matthew, may one day be drawn into a war. He expressed anxiety about the state of the world while speaking on the BBC's Political Thinking podcast. Swinney said he was shaped by family memory of loss after his uncle died in the final days of the Second World War and by his mother's lasting grief. He added that the invasion of Ukraine and its local effects made international tensions feel closer to home and that the post‑war rules-based order feels weaker. Reported details: - John Swinney told the BBC he is anxious that his teenage son Matthew could be drawn into a conflict. - He referenced his uncle's death in the final days of the Second World War and the long-term impact on his mother. - Swinney said the rules-based international order that followed the Second World War seems weaker now. - He cited the invasion of Ukraine and related local impacts, including higher energy costs and arrivals from Ukraine to Scotland, as factors that brought the issue closer to home. Summary: Swimney described personal and political anxiety that the peace and stability experienced since the Second World War may be eroding, and he worries future generations face greater risk of conflict. Undetermined at this time.