ALEX Salmond has called on the UK to adopt an “ethical and effective” foreign policy in 2017. In his New Year message, the former first minister, now the SNP foreign affairs spokesman, said Theresa May’s Government needed to stop selling weapons to “regimes with stained military tactics”.

Salmond says: “The new year is not one of celebration for many people in countries like Syria and Yemen where the horrors of 2016 will continue into 2017.

“For the UK Government, the new year should be one of recognising and correcting the errors in their foreign policy approach, and one where they adopt a more ethical and effective approach that abandons military obsession and instead puts humanitarian and political efforts at its core.

“You cannot arm regimes with stained military tactics with one hand and then raise the other to proclaim the need to uphold human rights.”

Meanwhile, Brexit dominated the New Year messages from Scotland’s party political leaders.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, said she was “determined” to make sure Scotland’s vote to remain in the EU will be respected.

“We are working to safeguard the opportunities that so many people in Scotland now take for granted,” she said. “We are determined Scotland’s vote to remain in the European Union will be respected – and that people in Scotland retain as many of the benefits of EU membership as possible, including the freedom to work, travel and study in other member states.”

Ruth Davidson said 2016 had been a “rocky year” and that she was ready to “welcome in the new”.

The Scottish Conservatives leader said: “2016 will go down as one of those years when the world felt that it shifted a little on its axis. It became a different, often more troubling place.

“Change can often be good – necessary even; but some change can be unsettling too. So my hope for 2017 is that we see a little more stability and moderation. People don’t expect governments to do everything for them, but they do expect them to make life a little easier. So, here in Scotland, that means we need to focus not on creating further division and instability; but on improving services and supporting business to get our economy moving again – to help families who are struggling to get by.”

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said Scotland staying in the UK was “more important” than staying in the EU.

She used her New Year message to commit her party to campaigning “with everything we have to protect that relationship”.

“Nothing is more important to the future prosperity and security of Scotland than remaining in the UK. But the Tories’ reckless Brexit gamble has given the SNP an excuse to resurrect its obsession with separation.

“Being part of the UK is even more important to Scotland than staying in the EU and Labour will campaign with everything we have to protect that relationship across our isles.

“Remaining in the UK is good for jobs, it’s good for our economy and it’s good for our public services. Labour will never support the SNP’s attempt to force another referendum on the people of Scotland.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said 2017 should see politicians putting “the politics of division behind us to focus on making Scotland a better country to live in.”