Scotland Office to fly England flag for matches

The Scotland Office will fly the England flag during World Cup matches, David Mundell confirmed after the Prime Minister backed calls for public buildings to hoist St George’s Cross.

The Scottish Secretary said Dover House on Whitehall would fly the England flag as long as UK government departments displayed the Saltire in 2022 – a vote of confidence in the Scottish team’s qualification chances for the next World Cup in Qatar.

England have already qualified for the knockout stage of this year’s contest and face Belgium in their final group game today.

As Conservative MP Nick Boles asked Theresa May at PMQS to raise the Cross of St George above government buildings in England, a number of Tories were heard to say “and Scotland”. Mrs May replied: “Number 10 will be flying the England flag on the day of each of England’s matches from now on, and we’ll be encouraging other government departments to do the same.”

Asked whether the Scotland Office would answer the call, Mr Mundell tweeted that he was “happy to do so as I am confident Number 10 and other UK departments will be flying the Saltire in 2022”.