MoD Refused Scottish Colours For Red Arrows

A request by Commonwealth Games organisers for the Red Arrows to trail the colours of the Scottish flag during the opening ceremony was overruled by the Government, it has emerged.

The Ministry of Defence was approached by the organising committee who asked if the traditional red, white and blue smoke could be switched for blue and white.

However, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon personally decided it was fitting for the Union flag colours to be used instead.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "The Red Arrows are ambassadors for the United Kingdom and are famous for their red, white and blue smoke trails which represent the whole of the UK.

"The flypast was to celebrate the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Commonwealth and the presence of Her Majesty so it was fitting that red, white and blue were used."

Glasgow 2014 organisers said that while the proposal was discussed with the Red Arrows no formal request for the colours change was ever made.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Scottish Government made no such approach regarding the Red Arrows, whose flypast was a spectacular highlight of a fantastic opening ceremony. Any claims to the contrary are completely untrue."

"Glasgow 2014, as organisers of the Games, independently contract a private company to organise and stage the opening and closing ceremonies.

"An approach was made by them to the MoD to explore whether it would be possible to have blue and white smoke in recognition of Scotland as the host Commonwealth nation.

"We believe that ultimately the UK Government did not want to proceed with this suggestion."