MSPs vote to keep Queen as head of state if Scotland splits from UK

AN attempt to reject the Queen as the head of state in an independent Scotland was overwhelmingly rejected by MSPs in a debate held at the Scottish Parliament to mark the monarch’s Diamond Jubilee.

Patrick Harvie, leader of the pro-independence Scottish Greens, forced a vote on a motion from First Minister Alex Salmond which congratulated the Queen on her 60 years on the throne and praised her for “exceptional public service and unwavering dedication”.

Mr Harvie is involved in the “Yes to independence” campaign alongside Mr Salmond, despite the SNP’s insistence that an independent Scotland would retain the Queen as head of state – a stance opposed by leading figures within the party.

The Green co-leader, who wants an elected head of state, was joined by his party colleague Alison Johnstone in opposing Mr Salmond’s motion, with SNP MSP John Mason and senior nationalist and Independent MSP Margo MacDonald abstaining on the vote.

Senior Nationalist MSP Christine Grahame, who also wants to scrap the monarchy in an independent Scotland, was among the eight MSPs not present for the vote.

However, Mr Salmond’s motion was backed by 116 MSPs, including Scotland’s community safety minister Roseanna Cunningham, another prominent republican within the SNP’s ranks.

Mr Harvie said that an attempt by him to hold a debate on abolishing the monarchy in the run up to next week’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations had been ruled out of order by Scottish parliament’s officials.

However, the Green MSP used yesterday’s debate on Mr Salmond’s motion to say that it would be “legitimate” for an independent Scotland to look at abolishing the monarchy.

He said: “The Queen’s respect is well earned and is fully due, as it is to many less recognised public servants who are not provided with comparable comforts and a decent standard of living.

“We’re engaged in a debate in this country about the future of Scotland. It is legitimate and some of us think necessary to debate how a head of state might be appointed in an independent country as well.”

Meanwhile, Mr Salmond said that a commemorative garden was being created at Holyrood Palace and also revealed a free phone app highlighting some of the most significant events of the Queen’s 60 years of service was being launched.

The First Minister also said a donation of £50,000 was being made to the charity Veterans Scotland in recognition of the Queen’s “special bond” with the armed services.

He said: “Over the six decades of the Queen’s reign, Scotland has altered dramatically and for the better. But one constant has been the Queen’s dedication, impartiality and service.”

He said the Queen had been a “particular friend of Scotland” and had also been a “staunch ally” of the Scottish Parliament.”