SNP using Olympics to further their Nationalist Agenda says Gordon Banks

21 January 2008

Gordon Banks MP for Ochil and South Perthshire today criticised the SNP for using the 2012 Olympics as a tool for furthering their separatist agenda.

Mr Banks said,

“This is obviously the pattern for the Nationalists now, take every opportunity to create division between Scotland and the rest of the UK.”

“That they are using the Olympics for their own narrow nationalist agenda is disgraceful.

“The SNP were the only party in Westminster with Scottish MPs to vote against the Government’s proposals and they obviously failed to listen seriously to the debate and the commitments given by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.”

“This selective use of the facts and their tribal rants to pursue a separatist agenda actually damages Scotland’s standing much more than it promotes their independence agenda.”

“The SNP are out of touch with 70% of the people of Scotland who support the Olympics coming to the UK and they damage the opportunity for our young talented athletes who have aspirations of representing Great Britain.”

“The percentage of lottery funding going to the Olympics has been reduced and the new license structure will deliver between £600 million and £1 billion over its life span for good causes. This, in addition to the guarantee that no further money will be diverted from good causes for the Olympics, the value that the Olympics can bring to the whole of the UK and the fact that that the Treasury is considering the options of a gross profit tax system for the lottery are why Labour MPs voted in favour of the Government’s proposals.”

“Labour MPs need no lessons from the party whose only goal is to isolate Scotland from its position in the UK.”