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It's flag wars as Olympics provokes tussle over union flags and saltires It's flag wars as Olympics provokes tussle over union flags and saltires
(31 minutes later)
So the Olympic torch has finished its seven day tour of Scotland, whisked briskly past some of the country's greatest landmarks: the Burns museum, Ailsa Craig, the Callanish stones, the Forth bridge and Edinburgh castle by about 700 torch bearers. So the Olympic torch has finished its seven day-tour of Scotland, whisked briskly past some of the country's greatest landmarks: the Burns museum, Ailsa Craig, the Callanish stones, the Forth bridge and Edinburgh castle by about 700 torch bearers.
But in its wake, the torch relay ignited a simmering dispute, about flags – which to fly and why? The union jack or the saltire? For many nationalists, it quickly became more than become a proxy for the constitutional dispute, but a source of tension and irritation too, about the politics of identity.But in its wake, the torch relay ignited a simmering dispute, about flags – which to fly and why? The union jack or the saltire? For many nationalists, it quickly became more than become a proxy for the constitutional dispute, but a source of tension and irritation too, about the politics of identity.
Partly with its arrival at Cairnryan and Stranraer coming close behind the diamond jubilee, there were union flags on open display in many areas of Scotland, as bunting, flags and window displays – including the birthplace of Robert Burns, Scotland's national bard, and the national football stadium Hampden.Partly with its arrival at Cairnryan and Stranraer coming close behind the diamond jubilee, there were union flags on open display in many areas of Scotland, as bunting, flags and window displays – including the birthplace of Robert Burns, Scotland's national bard, and the national football stadium Hampden.
Some days before the torch arrived in Scotland, there had been a spat over an apparent order to take the saltire down from Hampden when it hosts eight Olympic football matches; the saltire flies over Hampden 365 days a year. And the London Olympics committee, after fierce complaints from Scottish ministers, relented. Both the saltire and the union flag will now fly there next month.Some days before the torch arrived in Scotland, there had been a spat over an apparent order to take the saltire down from Hampden when it hosts eight Olympic football matches; the saltire flies over Hampden 365 days a year. And the London Olympics committee, after fierce complaints from Scottish ministers, relented. Both the saltire and the union flag will now fly there next month.
So I tweeted this:So I tweeted this:
Strongest image from today's day one #olympic #torch relay in SW Scotland: the number of union jacks on show, incl at Burns museumStrongest image from today's day one #olympic #torch relay in SW Scotland: the number of union jacks on show, incl at Burns museum
— Severin Carrell (@severincarrell) June 8, 2012— Severin Carrell (@severincarrell) June 8, 2012
Union jacks had frequently outnumbered saltires, Scotland's national flag. Supporters of the UK were delighted: it seemed being openly British suddenly became valid and a cause of pride. But then along the torch route, it emerged that Olympics sponsors and their marketing people were handing out free union flags. So too were Labour MPs, said some.Union jacks had frequently outnumbered saltires, Scotland's national flag. Supporters of the UK were delighted: it seemed being openly British suddenly became valid and a cause of pride. But then along the torch route, it emerged that Olympics sponsors and their marketing people were handing out free union flags. So too were Labour MPs, said some.
@ian_r47 tweeted:@ian_r47 tweeted:
@severincarrell re #UnionJacks in Scotland #Olympic #Torch relay - flags were handed out minutes before torch arrived, by the escort convoy.@severincarrell re #UnionJacks in Scotland #Olympic #Torch relay - flags were handed out minutes before torch arrived, by the escort convoy.
— ian_r47 (@ian_r47) June 8, 2012— ian_r47 (@ian_r47) June 8, 2012
Similar incidents arose in Wales too, said @lionelair on Twitter:Similar incidents arose in Wales too, said @lionelair on Twitter:
@scottishlabour @severincarrell just like the Olympic sponsors in Wales handing out free Union Jacks no welsh Dragons... #canthaveitbothways@scottishlabour @severincarrell just like the Olympic sponsors in Wales handing out free Union Jacks no welsh Dragons... #canthaveitbothways
— paul m roberts (@lionelair) June 13, 2012— paul m roberts (@lionelair) June 13, 2012
So on Wednesday evening, as the torch made its ascent to Edinburgh castle for a party, the Scottish government retaliated, hiring a marketing company to distribute free saltires to the crowds pressed onto the Royal Mile and at an earlier event in Stirling. A tweeted picture by the Guardian of the marketing men (dressed in black as it happens) provoked a heated debate on Twitter:So on Wednesday evening, as the torch made its ascent to Edinburgh castle for a party, the Scottish government retaliated, hiring a marketing company to distribute free saltires to the crowds pressed onto the Royal Mile and at an earlier event in Stirling. A tweeted picture by the Guardian of the marketing men (dressed in black as it happens) provoked a heated debate on Twitter:
Scottish govt has men in black handing out 100s free saltires to #Olympics #torch crowds on Mound: no union jacks here yfrog.com/odnkxsdjScottish govt has men in black handing out 100s free saltires to #Olympics #torch crowds on Mound: no union jacks here yfrog.com/odnkxsdj
— Severin Carrell (@severincarrell) June 13, 2012— Severin Carrell (@severincarrell) June 13, 2012
A Scottish Tory tweeter, and former candidate, @IainMcGill tweeted:A Scottish Tory tweeter, and former candidate, @IainMcGill tweeted:
@GHmltn @severincarrell that's the difference - obviously the Union Flags are sold out to a loyal populace - cannae even give saltires away!@GHmltn @severincarrell that's the difference - obviously the Union Flags are sold out to a loyal populace - cannae even give saltires away!
— Iain McGill (@IainMcGill) June 13, 2012— Iain McGill (@IainMcGill) June 13, 2012
And Scottish Labour's head of media, @ramiokasha, retorted:And Scottish Labour's head of media, @ramiokasha, retorted:
@severincarrell but I thought we were meant to be waving the Lion Rampant these days.@severincarrell but I thought we were meant to be waving the Lion Rampant these days.
— Rami Okasha (@ramiokasha) June 13, 2012— Rami Okasha (@ramiokasha) June 13, 2012
Scottish nationalists and anti-unionists retaliated:Scottish nationalists and anti-unionists retaliated:
@mordura said:@mordura said:
@severincarrell I'm delighted! It is Scotland's flag and the flame is in Scotland, after all. I wonder where the union jacks came from?@severincarrell I'm delighted! It is Scotland's flag and the flame is in Scotland, after all. I wonder where the union jacks came from?
— Peter Curran (@moridura) June 13, 2012— Peter Curran (@moridura) June 13, 2012
@ElaineKY2 said:@ElaineKY2 said:
@severincarrell U think Scots should be flying the union jack! No true Scot would make Scots feel like they are in wrong flying the Saltire!@severincarrell U think Scots should be flying the union jack! No true Scot would make Scots feel like they are in wrong flying the Saltire!
And @iainmoore replied:And @iainmoore replied:
@severincarrell And thats a bad thing why? We are Scottish, in Scotland, its the Scottish flag...?@severincarrell And thats a bad thing why? We are Scottish, in Scotland, its the Scottish flag...?
— Iain Moore (@iainmoore) June 13, 2012— Iain Moore (@iainmoore) June 13, 2012
In Fife, one resident, Chris who tweets as @therivertay, complained to the council after discovering that saltires which hang daily on council buildings were taken down, and replaced when the torch came through with union jacks. Chris believes Fife's newly elected Labour council is responsible:In Fife, one resident, Chris who tweets as @therivertay, complained to the council after discovering that saltires which hang daily on council buildings were taken down, and replaced when the torch came through with union jacks. Chris believes Fife's newly elected Labour council is responsible:
@ForScotland @scottishlabour @severincarrell I have 2 emails from Fife Council labour proving they removed saltires on torch route yesterday@ForScotland @scottishlabour @severincarrell I have 2 emails from Fife Council labour proving they removed saltires on torch route yesterday
— Chris (@therivertay) June 13, 2012— Chris (@therivertay) June 13, 2012
Asked for more details, he replied by email:Asked for more details, he replied by email:
On Newburgh High St the Scottish saltire flies from the town clock, (the tallest building in the village) for over 360 days of the year. As a Scottish person it fills me with great pride every time I see the flag flying from our most prominent building.On Newburgh High St the Scottish saltire flies from the town clock, (the tallest building in the village) for over 360 days of the year. As a Scottish person it fills me with great pride every time I see the flag flying from our most prominent building.
To take this Scottish saltire down and replace it with a union jack I believe was highly disrespectful to the village, Fife and the proud people of Scotland.To take this Scottish saltire down and replace it with a union jack I believe was highly disrespectful to the village, Fife and the proud people of Scotland.
A council spokeswoman said Newburgh's building is run by a community trust, not the local authority, but she confirmed the council did switch saltires with union jacks along the torch route for the day:A council spokeswoman said Newburgh's building is run by a community trust, not the local authority, but she confirmed the council did switch saltires with union jacks along the torch route for the day:
Just to confirm that Fife council followed protocol on the flying of flags on public buildings and flew union flags.

Also, the council doesn't manage any buildings in Newburgh, but these are managed by local community groups.		Just to confirm that Fife council followed protocol on the flying of flags on public buildings and flew union flags.

Also, the council doesn't manage any buildings in Newburgh, but these are managed by local community groups.
The Tories were unimpressed. Alex Johnstone, a Scottish Tory MSP, said:The Tories were unimpressed. Alex Johnstone, a Scottish Tory MSP, said:
I'm proud of the saltire but it is not just the sole property of the SNP.I'm proud of the saltire but it is not just the sole property of the SNP.
We should also be proud to fly the union flag, and over the past weeks the jubilee and Olympic torch events has allowed us to reclaim it back from the political right.We should also be proud to fly the union flag, and over the past weeks the jubilee and Olympic torch events has allowed us to reclaim it back from the political right.
It is extremely disappointing that in the face of this, the SNP have turned what should have been a celebration of the Olympics into a political opportunity.It is extremely disappointing that in the face of this, the SNP have turned what should have been a celebration of the Olympics into a political opportunity.
The Scottish government, however, suggested Johnstone was missing the point and overreacting:The Scottish government, however, suggested Johnstone was missing the point and overreacting:
Given the Olympic flame has been touring the length and breadth of Scotland over the past week and that eight Olympic football games are being played at Hampden – where the Saltire will be flying above the national stadium during the matches – it is entirely appropriate for Scotland's flag to help bring life and colour to these fantastic Olympic flame events.Given the Olympic flame has been touring the length and breadth of Scotland over the past week and that eight Olympic football games are being played at Hampden – where the Saltire will be flying above the national stadium during the matches – it is entirely appropriate for Scotland's flag to help bring life and colour to these fantastic Olympic flame events.