Senior Conservatives angry over SNP union flag reports

Reports the union flag will only fly over Scottish public buildings on Remembrance Sunday has been met with anger from senior Conservatives.

According to the Telegraph and Daily Mail, a new Scottish Government directive means government buildings will no longer mark the Queen's birthday with the UK flag.

It was previously raised alongside the Saltire to mark royal birthdays and anniversaries - but now the Saltire will fly alone.

Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “This decision smacks of small mindedness and is an affront to the majority of Scots who voted to remain within the UK.”

And Tory ex-leader Iain Duncan Smith fumed: “It is insulting to Scottish people to pretend that somehow Scotland is not within the UK.”

He said the decision was “outrageous” and “a tawdry attempt to sow more division” north of the border.

The rules, issued by civil servants, will apply to dozens of landmark buildings including the Edinburgh and Glasgow high courts and Linlithgow Palace.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon however insisted there had been no change to policy.

"This is nonsense," she tweeted. "It has been the practice to fly the Lion Rampant from government buildings on Royal occasions since 2010. There has been no change in policy or practice since then."