Legion’s fury at flag hijack

Chairman in centenary row

The British Legion has now entered the row over the refusal to fly the Union flag at County Hall.

The chairman of the Maybole Branch – the oldest in the UK – is “incensed” at the SNP’s refusal to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

The Nats talked down a Tory proposal to hoist the Union Jack in November at South Ayrshire Council’s HQ in Wellington Square.

And SNP Councillor Laura Brennan- Whitefield provoked wrath by saying the flag gesture was an “ill thought- out concept that is inappropriate for contemporary times.”

She succeeded in getting the flag for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersexual people to fly every day next month from the building.

Alec Kelly, chairman of the Maybole branch of the Royal British Legion, is now calling for a re- think.

He said: “I find it quite appalling these SNP councillors have gone down this road. “I don’t think they understand the concept of the Union Flag.

“It stands for the whole of the UK and I find Councillor BrennanWhitefield stupid for not thinking this a worthy occasion. She must live in a weird world and to me this shows this council as idiots. This has incensed myself and our members. I will be flying the Union Flag in November, I can assure you of that.”

The British Legion was founded on May 15, 1921 and the Maybole branch begun six weeks later.

Councillor BrennanWhitefield has already been taken to task on our letters page, with one writer saying: “Shame on Laura Brennan- Whitefield and her disgusting slur.”

This week the councillar hit back, saying: “Our flagflying protocol means the Union and Saltire flags are flown on Remembrance Sunday each year.

“Unfortunately my comments about the proposed flying of the two flags for the whole month of November – which were meant to highlight that the proposal limited our ability to respond to major events – have been taken out of context. I completely recognise and honour the bravery and sacrifice of everyone who has fought for our country at home and abroad. This Council has a proud history of supporting the armed forces throughout each year and paying tribute to those who have served.”