Veteran SNP John Swinney flags up an unusual application for his garden

Veteran SNP politician John Swinney has applied for permission to erect a six metre flag pole in the garden of his Perthshire home.

The party’s depute leader has oultined his proposal in a brief planning application put before Perth and Kinross Council.

He may be famed for his cogent arguments and persuasive debating style, but is rather understated with the application which merely reads: “Erection of a 6m flagpole within the grounds of my property”.

Mr Swinney also included a drawing of the pole, which would be glass fibre with a white finish.

There is no indication as to what particular standard Mr Swinney intends to fly from his pole should the application be successful.

The application is likely to be determined within the next fortnight leaving plenty of time of speculation.

Given the SNP’s current surge and depsite last September’s referendum defeat for the Yes campaign Mr Swinney is unlikely to be runing up the white flag.

Odds on a Union flag would also be generous with the smart money surely going on a Saltire.