Dear All
The tenth anniversary of the Scottish Parliament was marked by a speech by the Queen at Holyrood.
This should have been a time of celebration and reflection of the workings of that institution instead it was over shadowed by the fact that dozens of MSPs from various political parties stayed away because they couldn’t be bothered.
These Members of the Scottish Parliament snubbed the Queen and showed contempt for the institution which they work at. It was severe public relations disaster with Parliament officials drafted in to sit in seats normally occupied by members.
Some MSPs in order to save face have pleaded constituency or personal business as the reason for their absence that is a load of crap, the date for the Queen’s business was trailed as long ago as last October.
MSPs who did turn up were angry at what they regarded as an “own goal” by their colleagues. Their attendance at this event should have been a three line whip because not only did they embarrass Scotland, the people but they also did damage to their own parties.
As the majority party at Holyrood and the Government I would expect 47 out of 47 SNP MSPs to attend. The Labour Party was equally as bad 29 out of 46. Christine Grahame, the SNP MSP, stayed away because of her republican sympathies. Her excuse was;
"I had no intention of being there and I made my position clear before the event. I do not want to be seen as a hypocrite. I do not believe in the aristocracy running our country."
Wasn’t she a hypocrite when she took the oath of office then? So, it was okay for her to take the oath as an MSP because there was a pay packet at the end of the day?
Where were her principles then?
The SNP is seeking independence that means the Queen will still be head of state and Scotland will still be a member of the British Commonwealth. Ms. Grahame should remember that we need all people of Scotland to achieve the goal of independence and not to alienate voters because of her personal views; she is representing a party.
I would hope that the next time the Queen visits she should be accorded the respect she is showing the Parliament by full attendance.
In Scottish history there is an episode that a member of the Royal Family was sent to Edinburgh when he came to the border he was stunned by the large delegation of Scottish nobles that met him at the border and travelled with him to Edinburgh.
Some people need to learn to grow up.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
The tenth anniversary of the Scottish Parliament was marked by a speech by the Queen at Holyrood.
This should have been a time of celebration and reflection of the workings of that institution instead it was over shadowed by the fact that dozens of MSPs from various political parties stayed away because they couldn’t be bothered.
These Members of the Scottish Parliament snubbed the Queen and showed contempt for the institution which they work at. It was severe public relations disaster with Parliament officials drafted in to sit in seats normally occupied by members.
Some MSPs in order to save face have pleaded constituency or personal business as the reason for their absence that is a load of crap, the date for the Queen’s business was trailed as long ago as last October.
MSPs who did turn up were angry at what they regarded as an “own goal” by their colleagues. Their attendance at this event should have been a three line whip because not only did they embarrass Scotland, the people but they also did damage to their own parties.
As the majority party at Holyrood and the Government I would expect 47 out of 47 SNP MSPs to attend. The Labour Party was equally as bad 29 out of 46. Christine Grahame, the SNP MSP, stayed away because of her republican sympathies. Her excuse was;
"I had no intention of being there and I made my position clear before the event. I do not want to be seen as a hypocrite. I do not believe in the aristocracy running our country."
Wasn’t she a hypocrite when she took the oath of office then? So, it was okay for her to take the oath as an MSP because there was a pay packet at the end of the day?
Where were her principles then?
The SNP is seeking independence that means the Queen will still be head of state and Scotland will still be a member of the British Commonwealth. Ms. Grahame should remember that we need all people of Scotland to achieve the goal of independence and not to alienate voters because of her personal views; she is representing a party.
I would hope that the next time the Queen visits she should be accorded the respect she is showing the Parliament by full attendance.
In Scottish history there is an episode that a member of the Royal Family was sent to Edinburgh when he came to the border he was stunned by the large delegation of Scottish nobles that met him at the border and travelled with him to Edinburgh.
Some people need to learn to grow up.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
3 comments:
So if you are a republican you can have no representation at the Scottish Parliament... You should not express personal views and stay silent. Human rights campaigner??? Give me a break.
Dear Anon
Since when is not turning up representation?
She talks about not being a hypocrite but she still swears an oath so she can get the money.
Perhaps you should give me a break!
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
This was not a parliamentary session, but an expensive, elitist party. Grahame and I hope the others who were not there, were representing their republican voters. The "democracy" we live in makes no allowance for republicans so if freely elected they cannot take their seats without swearing either an oath, or an affirmation, as Grahame did, to enable them to represent their constituents. What is there to celebrate with such a charade? “Remember, the wider political objective of devolution is to weaken the case for Scottish Independence”, memo obtained under freedom of information and written by Labour First Minister Henry McLeish. NO SNP or Green MSP should have been present to celebrate this. Devolution is unionist with a different mask on. It is for a new, free and progressive country republicans work, not one tied to the inequality, injustices and elitism which is symbolised by the English monarch. Regards, Jim Hadden.
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