THEY WANT TO ● BAN THE TERM ‘UK’
After doomed bid to banish the word Britain, new name for arts body enrages Nationalists
AN SNP Minister has sent a ‘bullying’ letter to an arts body demanding it scrap plans to change its name – because it wants to include ‘UK’ in the title.
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said she would be ‘concerned’ by an organisation called Creative UK.
It comes only six months after the Scottish Government attempted to ban the word ‘Britain’ from a planned £120 million ‘Festival of Britain’.
Last night, a UK Government source said Scotland’s economic recovery risked being held back by ‘idiotic nationalist zealotry’.
The Creative Industries Federation (CIF) – which is planning to change its name to Creative UK as part of a merger with Creative England – represents arts and cultural businesses in the public and private sector. Last year,
‘Ramping up the grievance machine’
Chancellor Rishi Sunak provided £97 million for Scotland’s cultural sector and, ahead of his Budget, CIF wrote to him setting out its funding needs, with the Scottish Government copied in.
The letters made clear how hard the creative sector had been hit by the Covid pandemic.
But Ms Hyslop, the Minister charged with rebuilding Scotland’s battered economy, chose instead to focus on a proposed name change.
She wrote: ‘I was surprised to note your planned change of name to Creative UK.
‘As you know, Creative Scotland (within which Screen Scotland sits) is Scotland’s arts and creative industries development agency
‘Both Creative Scotland and Screen Scotland are recognised domestically and internationally as the organisations that support and develop the arts, culture and creative industries in Scotland.’
CIF and Creative England unveiled plans to merge in 2019, but are only now consulting on a rebrand.
Ms Hyslop added: ‘I am concerned that the presence of an organisation called Creative UK will send conflicting messages.
‘This is an area of devolved competence, and I am wary of anything that might lead to confusion about where the responsibility for these matters lies. I am particularly concerned that people seeking to invest in Scotland might assume that an organisation called Creative UK represents the whole of the UK, when the responsibility and expertise lies with Creative Scotland.’
She even suggested the Government would refuse to work with the organisation if it did not comply, writing: ‘I understand both Creative England and the CIF retain their own separate identities.
‘If this continues to be the case I see no reason why we cannot continue to work together with clear lines of responsibility and accountability between each of the four UK countries’ separate arts development bodies. It is of the utmost importance that we work together to ensure you do not accidentally stray into devolved territory or risk conflict with the remit and profile of Creative Scotland and Screen Scotland.’
However, Ms Hyslop has been condemned for ‘petty politics’.
Scottish Tory culture spokesman Maurice Golden said: ‘Our cultural sector has been one of the most badly affected by the pandemic. We need both of Scotland’s Governments working together to protect jobs and livelihoods. Instead we have the Cabinet Secretary ramping up the Nationalist grievance machine because she cannot bear anything that mentions the UK.
‘That sort of petty politics should be the last thing on anyone’s mind.’
A UK Government source said: ‘We face a massive task to rebuild the economy. Yet the SNP Economy Minister focuses on bullying a respected industry body because they want to include “UK” in their name. Scotland is being held back by idiotic nationalist zealotry.’
The CIF said that it could not comment.
The Scottish Government said: ‘Culture is a devolved responsibility and it is important the status of national arts development bodies remain clear and are not diluted or undermined by the creation of an organisation called Creative UK.
‘The Scottish Government has provided over £140 million to support culture organisations – far more than the £97 million of Covid culture consequentials provided by the UK Government.’
‘Scotland is being held back by idiotic zealotry’