Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, January 16, 2020

Official Report 1012KB pdf

Point of Order

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I apologise for not providing advance notice, but I did not have an opportunity to do that—time was lacking.

You will be aware that the Parliament has a duty to represent the people of Scotland. At the risk of saying something that people already know, the people and Parliament of Scotland have voted to indicate their preference to remain in the European Union, but despite that fact, Scotland will be taken out of the EU against its will in a few days’ time.

I note from your announcement today that the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has decided to lower the European Union flag at Holyrood. Arithmetic suggests that Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour MSP representatives on the corporate body voted for that. Given that the corporate body is accountable to Parliament, what means exist for members—or, indeed, the chamber as a whole—to challenge any decision of the corporate body, or to take such a decision into their own hands?

I thank Dr Allan for his point of order. For information purposes, I will correct Dr Allan. The corporate body discussed the matter at length and was very aware of the political sensitivities and the feelings of members and of the people of Scotland generally.

The decision was delegated to the corporate body in order to make it a non-political decision. [Interruption.] There is a huge amount of symbolism and politics in flag waving and flag flying, as members will know. The corporate body takes decisions in the interests of the Parliament, not in the interests of any party. It is a neutral and trusted institution. The members of the corporate body were very aware of the need to act in that way and not to take a political decision on the matter. It is a matter for the corporate body and not one for other parts of the Parliament. [Interruption.] I hope that that answers the member’s point.