Nationalists flag up fury over Saltire

Published on Thursday 7 October 2004 11:49

SCOTTISH Nationalists have accused parliament bosses of following rules from Westminster which ban the Saltire from being flown permanently outside the new building at Holyrood.

SNP MSP Bruce Crawford said he was stunned to find Scotland’s national flag would not be flying as a matter of course.

He claimed rules laid down by the UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport and backed up by the Scottish Parliament’s corporate body, said the Saltire should only be flown on certain days such as the Queen’s Birthday.

And he complained the policy also dictated the Saltire must always be flown in a "subservient" position to the Union flag.

Mr Crawford said: "I cannot believe that here, in the new parliament, we have one of the most distinctive buildings in Scotland and yet we are not going to fly our national flag outside 24/7."

A parliament spokesman said: "It is expected the corporate body will look at the issue of flag flying before the end of the year."