SNP slams Treasury scheme to plaster Union Jack flag on taxpayer funded projects
A war of words between the government and the SNP has been sparked by plans to plaster the Union flag on big taxpayer projects.
The plans that will be announced by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander tomorrow mirror the EU's practice of featuring the EU flag on infrastructure projects dependent on European grants.
The logo will display the Union Jack and brandish the words "funded by the UK government. Explaining the decision for the new display, Alexander said on Sunday:
I've prioritised infrastructure in this government because only long-term investments will support UK businesses and get the public finances and economy on a firm footing.
It's only right that we recognise the contribution of the UK taxpayer in supporting this economic growth, which is why I'm delighted to launch these Union Jack plaques.
The proposals may seem tame enough, but the SNP suspects some underhanded political tactics are at play. SNP treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie dismissed the logo, labelling it a silly gimmick by Danny Alexander and his Tory bosses".
He added that the logo won't "cover over the fact that his government at Westminster has slashed infrastructure spending – destroying jobs and delaying economic recovery – including cutting Scotland's capital budget by a quarter".