Scottish independence: Castle launch ‘sends out wrong messages’ claim rivals
ALEX Salmond has come under fire for using Edinburgh Castle to launch his independence referendum amid opposition claims that it sends out “all the wrong messages”.
But castle officials have insisted today’s event in the Great Hall is “legitimate” government business.
The last Labour administration used the castle to launch the Scotland Bill that brought about the devolution settlement in 1997.
Liberal Democrats leader Willie Rennie said Scots would not be happy with Mr Salmond’s venue choice. “This sends all the wrong messages,” Mr Rennie said.
“Things seem to have gone to the First Minister’s head. To use Scotland’s national monument for party political ends will just jar with people.”
Labour MSP Kezia Dugdale said: “Edinburgh Castle is a proud symbol of Scotland and belongs to all of the people of Scotland – not Alex Salmond or the SNP.
“It is disappointing that Historic Scotland has allowed this venue to be used for such overtly political purposes.”
Tory chief whip John Lamont said: “It is not acceptable for him to abuse his right to use them in such a manner, especially as Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland’s most treasured landmarks.
“Instead of attempting to move his office into the castle he should come back down to earth and start concentrating on getting Scotland working again.”
A spokeswoman for Historic Scotland, which runs the castle, said ministers may use it to promote or deliver government business.
“The press conference relating to the launch of the referendum consultation is a legitimate part of government business,” she said.
“Our sites are often used as venues for government events and announcements. For example, in July 1997 the White Paper on the Scotland Bill was launched at an event in Edinburgh Castle.”
Mr Salmond staged a St Andrew’s Day bash at the castle last year and hosted China’s vice-premier Li Keqiang at a state dinner.
• Scottish diaspora
Despite being open to anyone, the consultation will be of particular interest to the millions of people who are either Scots-born living abroad or part of the country’s global diaspora.
An estimated one million Scots-born people live outside Scotland, but those who feel they have Scots ancestry, has been estimated as high as 40 million.
In the 2000 US census, 4.8 million Americans reported Scottish ancestry. Scottish-Canadians are the 3rd biggest ethnic group in Canada where 4.7 million citizens claim roots.
Several more significant numbers of Scots have emigrated Down Under over the generations to Australia and New Zealand. Scots have also been emigrating to mainland Europe for centuries as merchants and soldiers to countries including France, Poland, Italy, Germany, Scandinavia, and the Netherlands.
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Comments
There are 16 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
codycuddie
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 04:52 PMCan't think of a better location - given the huge amount of world media interest. This can only be a good thing, both for Mr Salmond & co and Scottish Tourism.
Broon Bairn
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 01:46 PMThe unionist camp, being political schizophrenics, are constantly divided within themselves. They seem to feel the need to denigrate their own country and those who are trying to improve it. It's as if they have a secret shame of admitting their own roots and inheritance. No wonder they're starting to exhibit signs of paranoia in their current anti-independence campaign.
Faceless_bureaucrat
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 01:40 PM#11 - Salmond never uses "Scottish people" - which is not a valid term anyway, for a Scot - he uses the politically correct "People of Scotland" to cover the 20% living here - immigrants and UK incomers - who do not self identify as Scots. Salmond know's how the wind is blowing in terms of demographic's.
samcoldstream
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 12:25 PMWhat is truly disturbing the Unionists is that the Nationalists are now acting like a de facto Provisional Government in waiting?
grobert5
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 12:05 PMThe truth is that the use of the castle is irrelevant, that isn't what is upsetting the Unionist parties. They are upset that there is going to be a Scottish run consultation that is ignoring the one they would prefer to use, the one being run by the Tories and Lib Dems in Westminster. What are they frightened off ?
Biscuit McVittie
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 11:31 AMWho exactly are the ‘Scottish People’ that Salmond keeps quoting? I am a Scottish individual who does not require Salmond to intercede for me and express my views by proxy. This is just a mechanism to quell free thinking. As Burns would have put it, ‘The man o’ independent mind he laughs and scoffs at a’ that’.
Bruceboy
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 10:11 AMRivals say Alex Salmond is wrong by breathing Scottish air. Air belongs to everybody and is a Westminster matter and he wil need to apply for a 31 bus which will tell him when he can breathe and that an englishman will supervise his breathing to make sure it's fair.
Goodbye London Labour
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 09:43 AMLondon Labour's utter hypocrisy and total contempt for anything Scottish led to the Tartan Tories' disaster last May. Now London Labour, in standing shoulder to shoulder with the English Tories on anti-Independence ,will propel thousands of undecided voters into the YES camp. VOTE FOR INDEPENDENCE!
Broon Bairn
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 09:27 AMHow pathetic can the unionistas get? Especially No.3, who says "as a Labour activist...etc" he is critical of such a show of "anti-Britishness" (as he describes it). Says it all, really. Sad people.
Family guy
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 09:05 AMFFS! The castle isn't owned by the f**king Onionists. It's the Queenies and she will remain head of state after independence. when will the cretinous Onion opposition get it? They are working themselves out of a job! Maybe that's what they want.....
brochali
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 08:55 AMA shrewd decision which has attracted the international press and will provide worldwide information on the referendum process and debate.
Blarney
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 08:28 AMgus1940 No they have no shame whatsoever, they revel in the gutter with lies and hate.
gus1940
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 07:44 AMWhat a bunch of hypocritical Anti-Scottish idiots. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why was it OK in 1997 for Labour to use The Castle for the Devolution Launch? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Have these useless cretins no sense of shame?
Tennis C. Williams
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 06:21 AMAs a Labour activist, I agree with Johann Lamont that the public toilets in Glsgow's St Vincent Street would be a more appropriate background for such a blatant show of anti-Britishness. It was from Edinburgh Castle that our British soldiers sailed to the Normandy beaches in June 1944 to liberate France and it is now home to our loyal British army regiments. This gaffe will not have gone unnoticed by the Scottish electorate.
allymax
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 04:22 AMI think it's a great idea to use our Edinburgh Castle to launch our independence referendum; the 'tattoo' seem to think it's alright to honour our Monarch, so why wouldn't it be applicable to also honour our independence as a nation ? Great idea First Minister Alex' Salmond; keep up the good work !
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