Murray to ‘leave no stone unturned’ for Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2026

The UK Government is leaving “no stone unturned” to help bring the next Commonwealth Games to Glasgow, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has said – though he admitted the UK Government has “no public money available” to host the tournament.

Nevertheless, Mr Murray insisted the UK Government is “enthusiastic” about the prospect of Glasgow hosting the 2026 contest.

“We want the Commonwealth Games, if there is an opportunity to bring them to Scotland to have them,” he said.

His comments came after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told Scottish lobby journalists that his Government will talk to the Scottish Government about the situation.

The Scottish Government has already been in talks with Commonwealth Games Scotland and Glasgow City Council about the event returning to the city which hosted it in 2014.

Speaking about the event, Sir Keir said: “There is a difficulty with the Games, which was not of our making, and we want to be supportive.

“We will talk to the Scottish Government about this.”

The Prime Minister stressed “no final decision has been made” on the matter.

Meanwhile, Mr Murray said that, while there is no public cash to support bringing the sporting contest to Glasgow, he wants to see a “positive outcome”.

The Scottish city has emerged as the most likely host for a scaled-back Commonwealth Games to be staged, amid concerns over the growing costs of hosting such events.

Mr Murray told journalists: “I think the UK and Scottish Governments have both been clear there is no public money to invest or underwrite the Commonwealth Games, but we are leaving no stone unturned in what we can do to help.

“We want there to be a positive outcome here, and we are working with the Scottish Government to make sure we can get one.”

Discussions are continuing over what the security costs associated with hosting the Games in Glasgow would be, the minister added.

Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray told MSPs in May that cash from the Commonwealth Games Federation, plus “commercial income” from the event, could cover costs.

But on Tuesday, Mr Gray told MSPs the Government has to be alive to the “potential risks” to the public finances of hosting such an event.

“Obviously, we understand the potential benefits, particularly for the Glasgow economy, for tourism, for Scottish elite sport and the future of the Commonwealth Games itself, and that is why we continue to give it very serious due consideration.”

The issue was met with support from parties across the Holyrood chamber, but Mr Gray – in response to a question from Tory MSP Sandesh Gulhane – said there was a risk of “reputational damage” to Glasgow, and the Government must “make sure that this concept” as well as the potential financial burden “are right for Scotland”.