Josh Kerr hails Flower of Scotland anthem after Commonwealth Games win

Runner Josh Kerr has hailed Scotland’s national anthem, stating that hearing Flower of Scotland after winning gold at the Commonwealth Games mile race felt distinct from hearing God Save the King when representing Team GB, as reported by The National. Kerr crossed the finish line comfortably ahead of rivals, clocking three minutes 54.12 seconds to take gold ahead of Australian silver medalist Cameron Myers and Kenyan bronze winner Timothy Cheruiyot, while fellow Scot Jake Wightman finished fifth. A roaring crowd at the Scotstoun stadium watched as Scotland's First Minister later presented the medals. Kerr reflected on the podium moment via The National:

"To be able to have the Flower of Scotland playing versus, you know, GB national anthem, it's just different. Not many times in my career I'll ever have that, so I appreciate it."

Media additions

Josh Kerr, Athlete, via The National

Kerr also described the emotional weight of the ceremony to a BBC reporter, noting that the event allowed him to slow down and reflect on the hard moments of his career according to The National. Scotland enjoyed additional sporting success on the same evening, with Melanie Woods securing her second gold medal of the Games by winning the final of the women’s 400m T54 .

While athletes celebrated regional identity in Glasgow, political leaders in Westminster pursued structural decentralisation that could fundamentally alter the state. Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that his government's programme of devolution strengthens the case for a written UK constitution according to The Guardian. Burnham argued that the UK’s antiquated political system requires a dramatic overhaul to share opportunity equally across the country. The proposed decentralisation measures include giving regional leaders greater control over finances, shifting decision-making outside Whitehall through No 10 North, and establishing a codified model that functions for Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and English regions per The Guardian reporting.

Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, noted via The Guardian that introducing a codified constitution would represent a huge departure historically seen mostly in the wake of revolutions or wars. Bale added that while a written constitution could better define governmental competencies across local, regional, and national levels, it would also majorly constrain the executive by placing rules beyond simple parliamentary majorities. Dr Hannah White, chief executive of the Institute for Government, added via The Guardian that adopting a written constitution would be a very significant shift requiring rules far beyond devolution alone to encompass the entire structure of the UK state. Burnham previously addressed the issue in his book Head North, co-written with Liverpool city region mayor Steve Rotheram, arguing that murky constitutional arrangements hoard power in Westminster and perpetuate deep inequality according to The Guardian.

Key Events and Timelines

• Glasgow Commonwealth Games: Concluding an 11-day sporting event with a closing ceremony at the Ovo Hydro in Glasgow as reported by The National.
• Devolution Funding: Under plans announced last week, regional mayors across England will keep a share of local income tax according to The Guardian.
• Upcoming Proposals: Economic powerhouses such as London, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands are expected to hand some share of funds to less prosperous regions like Hull and East Yorkshire under proposals due in late October per The Guardian reporting.
• Full Implementation: Regional mayors across England will be able to keep a share of generated income tax by early 2028 according to The Guardian.