Judy Murray, the mum of British sporting hero Andy Murray, has slammed Scotland's nationalist First Minister Alex Salmond for unveiling a Scottish Saltire inside the Royal Box on Centre Court when Andy won the Wimbledon men's singles title last year.
Tennis coach Judy Murray who, like Andy, hails from the Scottish town of Dunblane, questions how the Scottish First Minister was even allowed to have the Saltire flag inside the Royal Box last year.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, she says: ‘Like most politicians they sense an opportunity and they go for it.
'But what I was wondering about was how he managed to get the flag in there because you are not really allowed to show support for one [player] or the other and you are not supposed to take flags in there... How did he manage that?’
Judy - who is the captain of the British Fed Cup team - also tells presenter Kirsty Young she is ‘thankful’ that neither side in the Scottish independence debate has solicited her support and said: ‘I am going to absolutely sit on the fence.’
Her comments come two weeks after her son said he ‘did not like it’ when Salmond unfurled the flag. Andy beat Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 6-4 in the Final.
Alex Salmond is the leader of Scottish nationalists SNP and Scotland's First Minister in its devolved parliament. The SNP are to hold a Scotland-wide independence referendum on 18th September, but they have a mountain to climb with the NO campaign having just pulled further ahead in the polls.
Later today third seed Andy continues the defence of his Wimbledon title by playing 20th seed Kevin Anderson of South Africa, who is 6ft 8in tall, in the fourth round on the world's greatest tennis arena, Centre Court.
Judy Murray is being lined up to appear on this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Andy Murray's mother slams 'opportunistic' Alex Salmond for raising the Scottish flag in the Royal Box after his Wimbledon win
Judy Murray questioned why he was allowed to take in flag in the first place
Spoke of her frustration at the incident on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs
Comments came two weeks after Andy said he did not like the flag-raising
By Mail On Sunday Reporter
21 June 2014
Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The mother of Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will today launch a thinly veiled attack on Alex Salmond’s ‘opportunist’ decision to fly the Scottish flag at the end of her son’s historic win.
Judy Murray questions how the Scottish First Minister was even allowed to have the Saltire flag inside the Royal Box last year.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, she says: ‘Like most politicians they sense an opportunity and they go for it.
Opportunistic: Andy Murray's mother, Judy, questions how the Scottish First Minister, dubbed "Wee Eck", was even allowed to have the Saltire flag inside the Royal Box last year
'But what I was wondering about was how he managed to get the flag in there because you are not really allowed to show support for one [player] or the other and you are not supposed to take flags in there... How did he manage that?’
Her comments come two weeks after her son said he ‘did not like it’ when Salmond unfurled the flag.
At the time Mr Salmond, who was sitting immediately behind David Cameron, said: ‘Anybody has got the right to wave the national flag. It’s a great way to celebrate this amazing triumph.’
Mrs Murray also tells presenter Kirsty Young she is ‘thankful’ that neither side in the Scottish independence debate has solicited her support and said: ‘I am going to absolutely sit on the fence.’
Andy hugs his mum Judy after winning Wimbledon last year
Proud Brit: Andy Murray won men's singles gold and mixed doubles silver with Laura Robson at the London 2012 Olympics
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