SUNDAY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: SNP insiders say the proximity of the event to the Scottish parliament and council elections could create a huge gamble if any public funds are used for the sporting spectacular.
An SNP veteran has warned colleagues not to make political capital out of the Commonwealth Games amid concerns that staging it again will be a gamble for the party.
But former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said: “I would urge people not to make political capital out of it and just celebrate a good thing. It’s about sports, not politics so let’s not make it into something it isn’t.” Former Glasgow South MP Stewart McDonald posted on social media last week: “Almost everyone in politics who I’ve talked to thinks this is a bad idea, and yet it has run away with itself and got to this stage. The idea that it won’t cost the public purse any money is demonstrably not true.”
Top news stories today Aitken said the Games shouldn’t be compared to 2014 and they would be a “great thing in their own right”. She said: "We want to get it back to a more manageable scale that could allow other cities a chance of bidding and hosting in future. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
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