Nicola Sturgeon tore into the Conservatives for allowing Brexit to kill off Dundee’s European Capital of Culture bid.
Thousands of man hours pursuing the lucrative status have been wasted after it emerged the EU will not entertain any bids from the UK.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Ms Sturgeon, said her government is trying to revive the bid and has called on UK ministers to “fix it”.
“I am absolutely dismayed by the news that I’ve heard this morning from the European Commission that Dundee’s European Capital of Culture bid looks as if it is going to be the latest victim of the Tories’ obsession with taking this country out of the EU against our will.
“They should hang their heads in shame.”
The FM said the Scottish Government had anticipated this issue and sought assurances Brexit would not derail the bid.
“So it is now deeply concerning that the amount of time, effort and expense that Dundee has out into scoping out of their bid could be wasted thanks to the Brexit policy of this Tory government,” Ms Sturgeon added.
“We are now in urgent contact with the UK Government and Dundee to understand the potential implications of this situation and to establish what action the UK Government is going to take to address it.”
The “fatal blow” for Dundee was raised by Mairi Gougeon, the SNP MSP for Angus North and Mearns, in Holyrood on Thursday afternoon.
Ms Gougeon said: “Dundee’s bid had the potential to have a massive positive impact not just for Dundee but for the likes of my constituency in Angus North and Mearns and the wider north east.
“Can I ask the First Minister what conversations she has had and the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government on this matter?”
