Ye Jacobites by name lend an ear... age old slur could be a thing of the past

Published on Sunday 12 July 2009 21:50

THOUSANDS of Scots and their relatives around the world could soon have a slur lifted that has stood against their names for hundreds of years.

A new campaign has been launched that could see the likes of actor Ewan McGregor – a member of the same clan as Jacobite rebel Rob Roy MacGregor – pardoned for actions that took place centuries ago.

Several hundred nobles were persecuted after Jacobite uprisings in the 18th century, including national hero Rob Roy and Flora MacDonald, who provided shelter for Jacobite leader Bonnie Prince Charlie after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

Certain noble lineages were declared as having a "corruption of blood". There were executions and banishments, and land and titles were taken away.

The new campaign, led by retired banker and heraldry expert Peter Drummond-Murray, has found cross-party support through a motion before the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Drummond-Murray's ancestors had their estates and titles removed but later restored through private Acts of Parliament.

He said many others have gone through the costly process of gaining such acts but an overarching campaign could remove the stain from hundreds of family names with relative ease.

He said: "This I see as doing justice to those who could not afford private Acts of Parliament and reconciliation. I think people are entirely convinced that these honourable men followed their consciences.

"Several hundred were stigmatised as having a corruption of blood and were exiled, largely to North America. This could lift the stigma for thousands of people around the globe."

The campaign, if successful, could restore ancient titles to descendants of earls of Panmure, Southesk and Kellie, as well as the Duke of Berwick.

"Acts of attainder", which branded an individual or group guilty of a crime without trial, were passed 264 years ago, although many were overturned to celebrate the Queen's silver jubilee in 1977.

Jamie McGrigor, a Tory MSP for the Highlands and Islands, lodged a motion at Holyrood backed by colleagues Nanette Milne, Elizabeth Smith and Bill Aitken, the SNP's Maureen Watt, Labour's David Stewart and the former Green leader Robin Harper.

He said the Year of the Homecoming was an ideal time for the move. Mr McGrigor said: "I think the Scottish diaspora do take these things very seriously and it's important Scotland acknowledges that loyalty to family and roots."

He added that the Scottish Parliament could only take the motion so far and it required an Act in the Westminster parliament to clear the Jacobite names.

Mr Drummond-Murray said Prime Minister Gordon Brown could bring in an Act on the matter and it would easily pass with support from all sides.

A spokeswoman for Number 10 declined to comment last night.

SNP MSP for North East Scotland Maureen Watt said: "It is bizarre that these ancient laws are still in existence on the statute book.

"It is about time this historical discrimination was dumped, and what better time to do it than in this year of Homecoming."

PROMISE TO REVERSE DEVASTATING MOVE NEVER KEPT

AFTER 1688, when James VII of Scotland and II of England was replaced by his daughter, Mary II, and her husband, William of Orange, many who refused to swear allegiance to William and Mary, right, and other staunch Stuart support-ers, were tried for treason, executed and "attainted".

Many more went into hiding or into exile, and were punished without trial by parliament passing Acts of Attainder. They lost all civil rights and their property, and, because their blood was held to be "corrupted", their descendants were disinherited.

The intention had been this would be relaxed on the death of the sons of the "Old Pretender", but it never happened. King George IV came to Edinburgh in 1822 and undertook to have the attainders reversed for anyone who so petitioned, but only a handful of peers could afford the procedure of a private bill in parliament to achieve this.