Scottish Secretary attacks Homecoming strategy

Criticism has been levied that Alex Salmond is failing to make use of Britain’s network of embassies to promote the county’s high-profile Homecoming 2009 programme.

According to the UK government’s Scottish Secretary, Jim Murphy, the SNP Scottish government has not taken advantage of the UK Foreign Office to help promote Scotland’s important 2009 festival that aims to lure Scottish expatriates back home to celebrate the 250th anniversary of national poet Robert Burns’ birth.

Murphy is vowing to work with the Foreign Office to help make the event a success even though Salmon has not asked for his involvement.

“Even though I haven’t been asked by the Scottish Government I will do all I can through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to make the Homecoming an international success,” he said.

Scotland on Sunday has been told that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not yet been officially contacted by Salmond or anyone from Homecoming 2009 regarding assistance with the event.

At the end of the week, a spokesman for the Scotland Office said: “The Secretary of State is putting his full weight behind the Homecoming. It is a massive year for Scotland and he wants to see the biggest boost for the tourist industry. That’s why he’s promising to deal with the UK Government’s worldwide departments to promote the cause of Scotland in the coming year.”

Thanks to news.scotsman.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

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