The Saltire flies high, despite Brown's flag-waving plans

SCOTLAND will be exempt from Gordon Brown's plans to fly the Union flag from every public building, it was confirmed yesterday.

As part of a drive to increase the sense of Britishness and unity, the Prime Minister announced earlier this month that he wanted the Union flag flown all year round on government buildings and eventually on police stations and hospitals across the UK.

Some MSPs expressed fears that the Saltire, which currently flies outside most Scottish Executive buildings, would be displaced in favour of the Union flag.

But following discussions between Alex Salmond, the First Minister, and Jack Straw, the UK Justice Secretary, Holyrood was guaranteed the power to decide on which flag flies over Scottish Executive buildings - such as St Andrew's House and the parliament.

At the moment, the Saltire is flown outside Scottish Executive buildings except on 18 special days - including the Queen's birthday.

However, the new SNP government are to review this, as well as current guidance to ensure the Saltire is given prominence when two flags are flying.

Opposition MSPs and the Royal British Legion Scotland last night backed the use of the Saltire in such circumstances - but not at the expense of the Union flag.

The furore over the flag is the latest flashpoint between the Glasgow-born Mr Brown and the new SNP-led Executive.

Within days of becoming premier, Mr Brown announced his intention to scrap rules stipulating the Union flag could only be flown on 18 fixed days a year.

Instead he wanted all government buildings to fly the Union flag 365 days a year.

He said: "The Union flag is one of the most recognisable symbols of the UK. In other countries it is regarded as a source of pride."

A consultation on the move was published last week.

But the move sparked fears north of the border that the Union flag would displace the Saltire.

Christine Grahame, a leading SNP MSP, said Mr Brown can "wrap himself in the Union flag to prove his Britishness" but it was not appropriate for Scotland.

However, during a visit to London last week, Mr Salmond was assured by Mr Straw that the new policy would not apply north of the Border as the policy is devolved.

Mr Salmond previously said Britishness "went bust long ago" in Scotland.

Now the Executive is to review the guidance to ensure the Saltire has prominence all year round.

Linda Fabiani, the culture minister, said the Saltire would be given priority outside Scottish government buildings.

"The Scottish government believes that the Saltire is Scotland's national flag and all such matters should be the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament," she said.

Yesterday, the Scottish Executive confirmed current guidelines are under review.

A spokesman said: "We obviously want to see the Saltire flying outside all Scottish government buildings at all times. If that involves having a look at the guidance, then we will review the guidance in due course, and that will include proper acknowledgement for royal birthdays."

However, a source close to the First Minister confirmed Mr Salmond will want officials to discuss matters with Buckingham Palace before issuing any new guidance. He said: "It is a simple housekeeping matter we will be looking at. We want to acknowledge the Queen's birthday and other occasions."

In addition to the review of flag flying on Scottish Executive buildings, Ms Grahame wants guidance on UK government buildings - currently a reserved issue - to be overturned so that the Union flag no longer dominates the Saltire.

She said: "The guidance which Whitehall has in place states clearly that the Union flag should be flown in a 'superior position' to that of the Saltire. That is entirely unacceptable and takes no account of the divergent political realities in Scotland and the rest of the UK. We should restore the Saltire to poll position."

She also wants the Saltire to be flown from Edinburgh Castle, although as a military garrison this is not the responsibility of the Executive.

"The Saltire is one of Europe's oldest national symbols and I believe most Scots would want to see it given full prominence again," she said.

George Foulkes, the Labour MSP and peer, said the flags should have equal prominence.

"I do not see any reason why they [the Saltire and Union flag] should not be flown side-by-side because I do not think it is worth falling out over. I think it is a storm in a tea cup."

The Tories also dismissed the issue as insignificant in terms of political debate.

Neil Griffiths, spokesman for the Royal British Legion Scotland, said it would be "offensive" to have just one flag outside a building like the Scottish Parliament.

"If somebody was campaigning solely for the Saltire that would be unfair for the majority of the voters and also a snub for all the achievements that the UK created under the Union flag.

"If any one group wishes to dominate the other you are heading for trouble. You have to have two flagpoles - and after all the money the taxpayer has spent on the Scottish Parliament, if we cannot afford two flagpoles then they cannot be serious.

It is a Scottish government and a Scottish decision.

"Having said that you could argue British taxpayers paid for those buildings and certainly some people think of themselves as British first and Scottish second," Mr Griffiths added.

SYMBOL OF CONTROVERSY

THE Union flag has been a symbol of controversy in recent years.

The UK national flag was invented when the Saltire and the St George's Cross were merged at the beginning of the 17th century.

Since then it has been used around the world as a symbol of the Commonwealth.

However, this has led to rebellion to the present day.

Bruce McPhee, the SNP MSP, said only the Saltire should be flown outside the Scottish Parliament after branding the Union flag the "butcher's apron" in reference to colonial brutality.

Sandra White, another SNP MSP, was also forced to apologise for labelling the flag a "soiled" image associated with concentration camps.

This is in stark contrast to the reinvention - led by Gordon Brown - of the Union flag as a symbol of Britishness.

He believes it is potentially a powerful tool in the fight against terrorism and wants to reclaim the flag from the extremists.

By comparison, the Saltire has remained a largely positive symbol of Scottish nationalism used in tourism and marketing.

It is one of the oldest flags in Europe. The only recent controversy has been deciding the exact shade of blue of the background.