I'm going through some old photos during lockdown and came across these from a mixed annuals border in mid August in Scotland.
Carthamus tinctorius? Maybe the more common cultivar Zanzibar.

Doesn't look a match for Carthamus tinctorius.
No sign of spines in your pics.
The top leaves, or bracts, or sepals are a different shape..
Compare to excellent image below.

Yes that's the reason I posted it here as it had been ID'd as that elsewhere and I wasn't convinced. Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of the lower leaves.

kniphofia said:Yes that's the reason I posted it here as it had been ID'd as that elsewhere and I wasn't convinced. Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of the lower leaves.

Your 2nd pic shows a very clear and useful id hint...
The lower leaves have 3 main veins which radiate from the stalk.
Sadly I cannot help you to id it.