SNP branded 'remarkably petty' after revolting over plans to hang King's portrait in schools
A revolt has been launched by SNP ministers against proposals to offer schools in Scotland a portrait of the King
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A revolt has been launched by SNP ministers against proposals to offer schools in Scotland a portrait of the King.
The Scottish Government has been asked by Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden to provide an “exhaustive” list of public buildings that would qualify for a free frame.
However, some ministers have branded the £8million plan "a waste of public money" and "remarkably petty".
SNP sources said they would "not have any part of" the scheme, while the Scottish Greens - who are in government at Holyrood - claimed the initiative would "look more at home in North Korea".
Some ministers have branded the £8 million plan 'a waste of public money' and 'remarkably petty'
ReutersThe King Charles portrait would replace those of the late Queen, which are hung in public buildings, such as police stations, courts and council buildings as well as schools.
A spokesman for Christina McKelvie, the SNP equalities minister, said: "In the midst of a cost of living crisis, we do not believe portraits of His Majesty are an appropriate use of civil service time or of public funds."
It comes after Republican protestors were given a prime spot at the King’s Scottish Coronation celebrations in Edinburgh in July.
The Scottish Government did spend money on the event, including purchasing a new £22,000 sword for the King.
However, Yousaf allowed one of his ministers, Patrick Harvie to criticise the decision.
Harvie, the Green co-leader, described the events as an "overpriced Game of Thrones cosplay exercise".
Constitution spokesman for the Scottish Tories, Donald Cameron said an SNP attempt to veto the portrait scheme because of "constitutional obsessions" would show how they were "utterly divorced" from public opinion.
"It would be remarkably petty, even by the SNP’s standards, to refuse to pass on the details of public buildings that would be eligible – at no cost to themselves – for a portrait of the King," he said.
The King Charles portrait would replace those of the late Queen, which are hung in public buildings, such as police stations, courts and council buildings as well as schools
PA
"It has always been entirely normal for schools, hospitals and government offices to have a picture of the monarch. And no one is being forced to take one, they’re simply being given the option."
An SNP source added that spending a "small fortune" in public money on the pictures was "simply wrong".
"They want to hang a picture of one of the wealthiest men in the country over the heads of children in the poorest communities in Scotland. We will not have any part of it," they told the Sunday Mail.
"It is ironic that this plan comes from the same Tories who are complaining about the civil service working on independence. That work is backed by the democratic mandate of the people of Scotland and yet they demand it stop.
"Yet here they are demanding Scottish civil servants spend their time organising thousands of pictures of the King. The hypocrisy is stunning"