Alex Salmond defends Wimbledon Saltire flag stunt

ALEX Salmond has defended his decision to unfurl a Saltire at in the Royal Box at Wimbledon after Andy Murray’s victory last year.

Andy Murray celebrates with the trophy after winning Wimbledon last year. Picture: PA

The player hit out at the First Minister’s actions at the weekend saying he “didn’t like it”.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown also attacked the gesture, insisting it made Scotland look “small”.

But the SNP leader said: “Unfurling a Saltire, waving a Saltire, the national flag of Scotland, that’s actually what lots of Scots do.”

Murray said that he met Mr Salmond after his 2012 US Open victory and the SNP leader “seemed perfectly nice to me”. But the tennis star added: “I didn’t like it when he got the Scottish flag up at Wimbledon.”

When asked who he would play for if Scotland became independent, Murray said: “I don’t even know. I’ve been competing for Great Britain for 16 years.”

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