24-06-2025
SNP accused of 'ripping off' work of small Scots business for profit
SUNDAY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: The party has now withdrawn its product after being accused of copying the Edinburgh firm's design.
The SNP has been accused of ripping off the work of a small Scottish business for profit.
The nationalists have now withdrawn a product after claims it was a 'bootlegged' version of one by independence-supporting brand Pieute.
The Edinburgh-based brand, founded by Robbie Walker more than a decade ago, released a water bottle and t-shirt in 2020 featuring the slogan 'Scottish tap water'. It became one of their best-selling designs.
But the SNP recently released a similar looking water bottle, for £10 cheaper, with the slogan 'Quality Scottish Tap Water'. It prompted claims from the brand that the party had stolen its work.
In a post on social media, the company wrote: 'Our main reason for existing is to further the cause for Scottish independence …
'We didn't expect for our country's biggest political party for independence to copy almost exactly our main source of income for their own profit.'
As compensation the company asked for the SNP to fund t-shirts they have promised to more than 200 people who competed in its Gaelic language challenge contest, captioning the post 'fund the tees and it's a truce'.
It said: ' As there were many more participants [in the contest] than expected we've not been able to afford to fulfil the promise yet. This is what they can do to make it right. It also mutually supports our joint objectives.'
The company said the SNP"have now reached out and taken the product down' before announcing they have produced a new version of their best-selling original water bottle for sale online.
Some of the brand's supporters commented on the post with one saying: ' Glad to see they at least took it down in the end. Wish they were as focused on independence as they are bootlegs though.'
Another said: 'While you're talking to them, ask them how they intend to achieve independence cos we're not allowed it.'
A third fan added: 'The current SNP leadership couldn't deliver a pizza let alone independence. Funding grassroots cultural and language projects instead of endlessly pumping cash into quango bootlickers would be a small start.'
The SNP has been contacted for comment.
