Holyrood storm over call to burn union flags
National conversation website attracts inflammatory comments from subscribers
Published:
Anti-English comments were posted on a Scottish Government website aimed at fostering the “National Conversation” on the country’s constitutional future.
One contributor to the debate on independence called on the SNP to make flag-burning legal so “we can burn all the Union Jacks”.
Another referred to “all the men and women of the isles” being forced to do “ill deeds for a few greedy people”.
The postings, which have been removed, led to a protest by former social justice minister Jackie Baillie.
The Labour MSP for Dumbarton claimed the National Conversation has no more legitimacy now than when it was launched last year.
She said: “There is no place for bigotry on a government website, yet the National Conversation website has inflammatory comments which called for the burning of the Union Jack, attacked the Royal Family, our English neighbours and the UK.
“While open debate is central to our democracy, the government has a responsibility to ensure that it does not promote views that are frankly unacceptable in modern Scotland, especially when their website is paid for by the taxpayer.”
Ms Baillie added it was “clear that offensive comments and attitudes are still posted”, and claimed they “betray the narrow conversation the SNP is having with its own support”.
But an adviser to First Minister Alex Salmond said: “We moderate the website to try and ensure that offensive comments do not get posted, but as with all websites, some slip through and the government’s website is no exception.
“That’s what happens when there is free exchange of people's views and tens of thousands of entries.
“With over 314,000 hits, and the white paper attracting 26,000 views, the success of the website demonstrates that many people want to join in the debate.”
North-east Tory MSP Alex Johnstone said: “These kind of remarks are divisive and provocative, particularly to people like myself who have a fundamentally Scottish background but consider ourselves British.”
Aberdeen North Labour MP Frank Doran said: “If your major policy and your obsession is independence and stirring up conflict with the Westminster government, then it is inevitable you will attract attention from the bigots and racists.”
None of the comments now on the website urge flag burning, but there are attacks on the English and the Royal Family.
Their comments include: “We need to rid ourselves of the English suppression.”
Another says: “The English living in Scotland are mostly here to enjoy retirement on the richer pickings they had available to them.”
One contributor from Aberdeenshire said: “Since 1975 Westminster has lied about the oil. These are the cheats that set your budget and who will in the end dictate what your health service will be like.”
Another warned of the “danger of descending into the usual murky cesspit of British-style smear politics".
Comment, Page 15
Readers' Comments