SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon dismisses claims she is trying to 'eradicate' Union Flag from Scotland

Ms Sturgeon has rubbished media speculation
PA Wire/PA Images
Martin Coulter24 January 2018

Nicola Sturgeon has dismissed claims she is trying to "eradicate" the Union Flag from Scotland.

The SNP leader took to Twitter on Tuesday night, branding media reports of an alleged ban "simply untrue".

The Daily Mail and The Telegraph reported that Scottish Government plans meant the Union Flag would only be flown on Remembrance Days, rather than Royal birthdays and anniversaries.

But Ms Sturgeon said it has been common practice for the Lion Rampant, the royal flag of Scotland, to be flown on such occasions since 2010.

The Scottish Lion Rampant has been flown regularly since 2010
PA

She wrote: "This is nonsense. It has been the practice to fly the Lion Rampant from government buildings on Royal occasions since 2010.

"There has been no change in policy or practice since then."

Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser had accused Ms Sturgeon of trying to "eradicate" the Union symbol in Scotland.

He told the Mail: "Nicola Sturgeon’s always keen to stress that her civic nationalism is nothing to do with flags and banners.

"Yet here we have her trying to eradicate the Union Flag from government buildings in Scotland.

"This is just another example of the SNP government pushing its separatist agenda by stealth.

"Refusing to fly the Union Flag on the Queen’s birthday is something that may well appeal to the extreme elements of the nationalist movement.

"But ordinary members of the public will be altogether less convinced."

The Queen's former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, told the Mail he thought the alleged decision was "churlish".

He said: "On a personal note, I think it is churlish.

The Queen's official birthday is on June 9 in 2018 
PA Wire/PA Images

"I’m not sure it is anti-monarchy – it seems a swipe at Downing Street and at the Union rather than the monarchy as such. But I think it is a daft idea."

Meanwhile Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, told them: "This is another sign the SNP government is interested only in representing the dwindling band of voters who share their obsession with independence and flags.

‘The people of Scotland voted to stay part of the UK – with its Union Jack flag and all – and it’s time Nicola Sturgeon finally came to terms with it rather than wasting her time on the dog-whistle politics of nationalism.’

A spokesman for the SNP told the Metro: "The policy has not been changed under the current First Minister - the public guidance has simply been updated by officials in response to queries to match longstanding practice."

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