Pandas deal ‘was not gift’

ADVERTISING watchdogs have ruled the Scottish Government misled the public by describing Edinburgh’s pandas as “a gift”.

An advert in Scottish newspapers at the end of last year stated: “The Chinese are gifting two giant pandas to live in Scotland.”

But the Advertising Standards Authority will this week uphold a complaint by animal welfare campaigners, who pointed out that Scotland will pay £600,000 a year for Yang Guang and Tian Tian.

The government voiced disappointment at the ruling, saying Chinese authorities happily described the deal involving Edinburgh Zoo as “a gift”.