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Tensions have risen over the creation of a new Festival of Britain, a nationwide cultural festival planned for 2022 to celebrate all that makes Britain great. Express.co.uk understands that Scottish government officials have raised concerns about the inclusion of certain references to “British” in festival-related material, the motto of which is “the best of modern Britain”.
But the tensions have not ended there, as Whitehall officials dismissed comments from SNP leader Ian Blackford, who said today that Boris Johnson’s prime minister post has been “woefully exposed” due to his handling of COVID- 19.
Commenting ahead of the new House of Commons session, Mr Blackford declined the Prime Minister and Chancellor’s summer visits to Scotland to highlight the importance of the union to Scotland as “just photo opportunities” .
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Whitehall Fountains urged Mr Blackford to stop playing “petty party politics” and stressed that the UK should be “united” to help deal with COVID-19.
The House of Commons is scheduled to return Tuesday for the next parliamentary session, while Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon will outline her plans for the upcoming Holyrood season next week.
The Westminster Festival of Great Britain proposal is said to have been inspired by the Great Exhibition of 1851 during the reign of Queen Victoria, and also by the post-war Festival of Britain in 1951.
Theresa May announced the £ 120 million concept in 2018 and is expected to feature a host of events across the country, including Scotland.
Westminster says it would give the UK a significant cultural boost with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport ready to go to work commissioning agencies to develop festival material.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Whitehall sources said the festival would “celebrate the best of Britain” and stressed that “Scotland would benefit significantly financially from the event.”
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The tensions come at a time when Westminster is changing its stance on Scotland and Boris Johnson tells his cabinet that more visits north of the border need to be made to ensure they have a regular presence.
Johnson has made two visits to Scotland, one of them in an official capacity, as well as Michael Gove, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and several other high-level cabinet ministers.
He has also decided to change course and direct an offensive approach to dealing with the SNP-led administration in Holyrood as he plans another visit to Scotland next month.
But Ian Blackford, SNP leader in Westminster, dismissed the Prime Minister and Chancellor’s summer visits to Scotland to highlight the importance of the union for Scotland as “just photo opportunities”.
Speaking today, Mr Blackford said: “They can try a makeover as much as they want, but the bottom line is that Scotland is moving forward.
“You can see all the polls that have come out over the course of the last few months that show that the SNP is in a very strong position for next year’s Scottish elections.
“Support for independence is now consistently and materially above 51 percent and I think the big question for Douglas Ross and the Conservatives is whether they will accept the right of the people of Scotland to determine their own future as they should.”
Ahead of Holyrood’s new parliamentary season, Scotland’s Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a “radical” approach was needed to help Scotland’s economic recovery, following GERS figures, which represent a £ 2,000 bonus. for the Scots this week.
Sturgeon warned that the virus should not be allowed to “define our future.”
He added: “We have the opportunity, not simply to go back to the way things were, but to address many of the deep-seated challenges facing our country.”
A UK government spokesperson added: “The strength of the UK has never been more important than now, which is why the UK government is doing everything it can to support all parts of the UK as we recover from the pandemic.
“In 2014, the people of Scotland voted decisively to remain part of a strong UK.
“We need to focus on the issues that people really care about – continuing to address the pandemic and driving our economic recovery.”
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