Picture copyright Getty Pictures MSP
Picture copyright
Getty Pictures
MSPs are to be given a vote on whether or not to maintain the European flag flying at Holyrood after the UK leaves the EU.
The parliament’s company physique administration group had decided to take the flag down for the time being of Brexit.
However the Scottish authorities has pushed for a vote within the chamber, citing the 62% Stay vote north of the border.
Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh urged ministers to not politicise the problem, saying the flags flown at Holyrood “replicate {our relationships} in legislation”.
However a authorities spokesman stated “symbolism issues” and that it’s “cheap to place it to a vote”.
The Scottish Parliamentary Company Physique (SPCB) – a administration group comprising members of every of Holyrood’s events – had beforehand determined that the flag needs to be lowered at 23:00 on 31 January, the second the UK formally leaves the EU.
The Scottish authorities protested, with Brexit Secretary Mike Russell saying the transfer was “fallacious and must be modified”.
A 30-minute debate is now to be held on Wednesday, with MSPs voting later within the day on a authorities movement which “directs” the SPCB to maintain the flag flying “every day”.
‘Political challenge’
The movement states that Scotland and the UK will proceed to be represented within the Council of Europe, and that the flag ought to keep up “as an indication of assist and solidarity with these EU nationals who’ve made Scotland their residence”.
Mr Macintosh wrote to the federal government stressing that the choice “was not a political one”, and saying there was a “clear want from all members of the SPCB that our flag flying coverage shouldn’t turn into a political challenge for debate on the ground of the chamber”.
There was controversy at the same time as MSPs agreed to carry the vote, with opposition members objecting that “parliamentary time is scarce”.
Scottish Lib Dem chief Willie Rennie stated that at the same time as a passionate pro-European, he believed parliament ought to “respect the choice of the company physique and the independence of the company physique”.
Scottish authorities enterprise supervisor Graeme Dey stated ministers had solely sought a debate “with a heavy coronary heart” after the SPCB had refused to revisit their place, and stated the talk was at all times going to turn into political.