STURGEON BANS UNION FLAG FOR QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY
SNP stops British flag flying on government buildings during Royal Family celebrations
NICOLA Sturgeon has decreed that the Union Flag should not be flown over dozens of public buildings on the Queen’s birthday and other royal events.
She has ruled that the number of days the UK flag is displayed on key occasions should be cut from 15 to only one – Remembrance Day.
The move sparked anger last night, with critics accusing the First Minister of ‘trying to eradicate the Union Flag’ in Scotland. In contrast, the Rainbow flag – symbol of the LGBT community – will be flown on four days a year.
The Union Flag has previously been hoisted above many of Scotland’s best-known public buildings, historical sites and visitor attractions on royal birthdays and special anniversaries.
The decision – ratified by the First
Minister – was last night branded ‘churlish’ and ‘stupid’.
Among the sites which will be affected are the High Courts of Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scottish Government offices and 30 key historic sites.
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon is always keen to stress that her civic nationalism is nothing to do with flags and banners. Yet here we have her trying to eradicate the Union Flag from government buildings in Scotland.
‘This is just another example of the SNP pushing its separatist agenda by stealth. Refusing to fly the flag on the Queen’s birthday may well appeal to the extreme elements of the Nationalist movement, but ordinary members of the public will be altogether less convinced.’
The Scottish Government sets a policy on the use of flags for its own offices, such as St Andrew’s House and Victoria Quay in Edinburgh, and Atlantic Quay in Glasgow, as well as its ‘executive agencies’ and associated departments.
Other public bodies, including quangos and councils, can choose whether to follow the guidance – and many do.
Until this month, rules stated that the Union Flag should always be flown on 15
‘Pushing a separatist agenda by stealth’
specific days a year, including the Queen’s birthday, the anniversary of her accession and her wedding anniversary.
On key royal dates, the Saltire will now be flown – or the Lion Rampant at St Andrew’s House or other buildings where the First Minister is present. The guidance states: ‘Only on exceptional occasions would a flag other than the Saltire be flown on a day other than a listed day.
‘Any requests to fly flags on exceptional occasions must be cleared in advance with the First Minister through the protocol and honours team.’
Dickie Arbiter, the Queen’s former press secretary, called it a ‘daft idea’. He added: ‘It certainly won’t cause concern in Buckingham Palace – they will be guided by the Scottish Government. But on a personal note I think it is churlish.
‘I’m not sure it’s anti-monarchy – it seems a swipe at Downing Street and at the Union rather than the monarchy as such. It is a stupid idea and very churlish but it won’t stop people in the private sector from marking the Queen’s birthday with the Union Flag.’
The guidance applies to ‘executive agencies’ including Education Scotland, the Scottish Prison Service and Transport Scotland. Other quangos, as well as Scotland’s 32 local authorities, can choose whether or not to follow suit.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service has confirmed it will do so for the four buildings where flags are flown: Parliament House, the High Courts in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and Inverness Sheriff Court.
Historic Environment Scotland said it follows ministers’ guidance for 30 of the buildings where it has flags, including Aberdour Castle, Arbroath Abbey, Dumbarton Castle, Inchcolm Abbey, Linlithgow Palace, Melrose Abbey, St Andrews Castle and Tantallon
‘Obsession with independence’
Castle. However, separate rules apply for three of its sites – Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Fort George – as they are ‘Army flag-flying stations’ and fly the Union Flag on ‘an ongoing basis’.
Pamela Nash, chief executive
of Scotland in Union, accused Miss Sturgeon of ‘wasting her time on the dog whistle politics of Nationalism’.
She added: ‘It’s extraordinary the Scottish Government can find time – with the NHS under pressure, standards in schools slumping and the economy under-performing the rest of the UK – to spend time and resources revising policies on which flag flies on which day.
‘This is another sign the SNP Government is only interested in representing the dwindling band of voters who share their obsession with independence and flags.’
The Scottish Government said the previous policy allowed its main HQ, St Andrews House in Edinburgh, to fly the Lion Rampant, the Royal Banner of the Royal Arms of Scotland, on key royal occasions rather than the Union Flag – meaning the number of days the UK emblem is flown there will not change.
A spokesman added: ‘The flag-flying guidance was recently updated to see the Lion Rampant flown from St Andrew’s House to mark royal birthdays and anniversaries.
‘The Union Flag will continue to be flown on Remembrance Sunday. The updated guidance will not see any reduction in the number of days the Union Flag is flown within the Scottish Government.’
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