THE ROYAL Highland Show is at the centre of a row over the "Union Jacking" of Scottish produce and landmarks.
Some have become enraged that this year's show has seen posters of famous Scottish landmarks such as the Kelpies and the Forth Bridge and food such as Stornoway Black Pudding accompanying a 'Britain is great' slogan.
#PressRelease : Top Scottish Chef Demonstrates ‘Slow Food’ Fast at the Royal Highland Showhttps://t.co/kAaETflLJZ. pic.twitter.com/FyaLoVENdz
— Scene & Herd - the Rural PR and Marketing Agency (@sceneherdpr) June 26, 2018
This is how Scotland's #FoodandDrink was promoted @ScotlandRHShow
— keepScotlandtheBrand (@keepScotBrand) June 25, 2018
Most #Farmers #Fishers #Food producers I have spoken to are passionate about clear provenance on their goods.
They are not happy with this approach
They want us to #keepScotlandtheBrand
SRHShow must know this pic.twitter.com/lgsS53AMwW
There was concern that Scotland's Larder demonstrations featuring the likes of the award-winning Paul Newman, chef proprietor of Thyme at Errichel Restaurant, among others, featured a logo featuring a Union Flag and the words "food is great".
Pictures featuring some of Scotland's most iconic features were turned into 'Britain is Great' posters at an official UK government stall at the show which was visited by Scottish Secretary David Mundell and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove.
Video: Shortbread firm at centre of Union Flag branding row warns boycotts kill Scottish jobs
A poster featuring the Kelpies carries a 'British culture is great" symbol.
Others poster images featuring the 'Britain is Great' stamp featured the Queensferry Crossing, the SEC Armadillo and SEC Hydro, the Edinburgh military tattoo and the St Andrews Links.
The branding has ignited a new 'Scotland the Brand' debate with some concerned at the absence of the Saltire.
SNP MP Douglas Chapman tweeted: "I’ve attended most of the briefings at Westminster & told @LiamFox directly that ignoring #ScotlandtheBrand is a huge, huge error of judgement.
"A blinkered, 'it will be alright on the night' approach doesn’t help #Scotland..."
Always good to be in Scotland. First visit to the Royal Highland Show. Thank you to the @UKGovScotland for hosting a craft beer reception & David Mundell S of S & Michael Gove @DefraGovUK. Beer is definitely GREAT! pic.twitter.com/cSX3gAmkza
— Brigid Simmonds BBPA (@BrigidSimmonds) June 21, 2018
Keep Scotland the Brand, the campaign group that began after Union flags replaced the Saltire on Scottish produce in some supermarket commeting on the Scotland's Larder demonstraiton said: "Most farmers, fishers and food producers I have spoken to are passionate about clear provenance on their goods. They are not happy with this approach They want us to keep Scotland the Brand. [The Royal Highland Show] must know this."
Complaints over Walkers' shortbread sold under a Union Flag
Many on social media have registered their concerns over the moves.
Dorothy Bruce said: "Scotland's larder taken over by Food is Great and the union flag, Hope RHS exhibitors are happy with this as many of their customers aren't."
Andy Braes, a life member of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland said: "I have just sent a strongly worded email to them condemning them they are treating Scottish produce with contempt."
Earlier this year Walkers Shortbread moved to hit back at those saying they would avoid the company products for using Union Flag branding saying such boycotts are "killing Scottish jobs".
SNP Government criticised in M&S 'Union Jackery' row
Joint managing director Jim Walker of the 120-year-old Moray-based family firm said he was "not ashamed" to use Union Flag branding on what he described as a niche novelty products sold in London and abroad as gift items and insisted he and the company are "proud to be Scottish".
And Andrea Leadsom, leader of the House of Commons led a House of Commons backing after Moray's Conservative MP Douglas Ross attacked the "unacceptable and despicable abuse" Walkers received for using the British flag in some exports of shortbread abroad.
Yesterday, Secretary of State @michaelgove visited the #HighlandShow to celebrate and hear from representatives of the Scottish food and farming industries. #DeliveringForScotland #FoodisGREAT pic.twitter.com/Qe4dFCvadV
— Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) June 22, 2018
Uk govt tent at royal highland show today - no mention of Scotland 🏴 to be seen - free uk govt bags etc - very strange .. #scotref #rhs #scotlandthebrand #indyref2 # pic.twitter.com/M5ZwyOk7Jb
— Morag 🏴 (@rhuadh56) June 22, 2018
@ScotSecofState @ScotlandRHShow Can anyone tell me if there is a new team within the Scottish Office dedicated to stamping out Scotland as a Brand? Very odd seeing The Kelpies adorned with Union Jacks to promote UK at the Royal Highland Show. #ScotlandTheBrand #CultureGrab pic.twitter.com/F2b3dIdUu0
— Pat Byrne (@glasgowswestend) June 23, 2018
Two years ago protesters descended on Scotland's most famous confectionary firm, Tunnock's following reports that the biscuit maker had added the Union Flag to branding for its exported products.
Other products that some have taken offence to being branded as British include haggis, whisky and even the famous painting the Monarch of the Glen.
The Royal Highland Show and DEFRA have been approached for comment
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel