Display of arrogance

THE latest instalment of Nicola Sturgeon’s grandstanding world tour was supposed to highlight her support for continuing the ties between Scotland and the EU.

Therefore it was very embarrassing for the First Minister that her Brussels charm offensive was overshadowed by questions over whether a cheap political stunt broke European Commission rules.

With typical opportunism, on the stroke of midnight on Brexit day, the SNP projected an image of the words ‘Scotland’ and ‘Europe’ linked with a love heart onto the Commission’s HQ. At the time, Miss Sturgeon took to social media and wrongly gave the impression that Brussels chiefs were in some way complicit in displaying the political message.

The far-from-diplomatic stunt backfired when it emerged the display broke EU rules. Yesterday, as the SNP leader was due to speak to a pro-EU think-tank, a European Commission spokesman suggested the issue had been taken up with Belgian police – although backtracked and said no contact was made as the display was ‘short-lived’.

The sorry episode is symbolic of the problems facing Miss Sturgeon – she flies off to Europe at any opportunity to make overtures to foreign leaders about the case for an independent Scotland, while falsely giving the impression she is a head of state, yet she can’t even abide by the EU’s rules.

Michel Barnier is prepared to indulge her by meeting her, but would he be so accommodating if she led an independent Scotland which wanted into the EU yet refused to abide by its rules on cutting the deficit, adopting the euro and signing up to the Common Fisheries Policy?

Rather than showboating, while banging the drum for separation when there is no prospect of a referendum, Miss Sturgeon would be well advised to pay more attention to her in-tray at home – a government mired in scandal and failing in key areas such as health and education.