Harriet Cross, Conservative MP, Poppies for Remembrance Day and First Minister John Swinney.
by LUCY ASHTON
Shadow Scotland Secretary Harriet Cross has written to John Swinney demanding answers over whose decision it was not to acknowledge Remembrance Sunday on the Scottish Government’s official X account.
In the letter, Ms Cross said that it “cannot be a coincidence” that not only was Remembrance Sunday not acknowledged, but the Scottish Government’s post about a Sikh festival was published at exactly 11 am, as the nation fell silent to remember the servicemen and women lost to conflict.
Cross said that this shows a “total disregard” for the sacrifices our soldiers made and continue to make in defence of our country, including the 83,000 Sikhs killed fighting in both World Wars.
The Conservative frontbencher adds that veterans and their families deserve answers from an SNP government seemingly unwilling to acknowledge the sacrifices made by men and women fighting under the United Kingdom’s flag.
Ms Cross concludes by asking the First Minister a series of questions, including if he raised any concerns that the account had not marked the day and what plausible explanation there is for a post recognising a Sikh festival being published at precisely 11 am on November 8th.
Harriet Cross MP said: “Whoever runs the Scottish Government’s X account has got serious questions to answer over their failure to mark Remembrance Sunday.
“This wasn’t because it was observing a period of respectful silence. They posted about an important date in the Sikh calendar and about climate change. But chose to avoid acknowledging those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
“It is hard to see their decision to post about a Sikh festival at precisely 11 am, at the very moment that people across the country were observing a two-minute silence to honour our war dead, as a coincidence.
“There is no reason why they couldn’t have recognised both – not least out of respect to the 83,000 Sikhs killed fighting in both World Wars.
“This failure to mark Remembrance Sunday shows a total disregard for the sacrifice our soldiers made and continue to make in defence of our country.
“Veterans and the families of those who gave their lives for our country deserve answers from an SNP Government seemingly unwilling to acknowledge the sacrifices made by men and women fighting under the United Kingdom’s flag.”