The Angus flag flying fracas continued as a former SNP councillor said the situation had left him “disappointed and exasperated” at the “small minded objection” by a party colleague to flying the Merchant Navy flag from the Ballhouse in Montrose.
A campaign to fly the Red Ensign on September 3 each year to recognise the sacrifice of Merchant Navy sailors has gained momentum across the UK, with the date selected to mark the anniversary of the sinking of merchant vessel SS Athenia, with the loss of 128 lives, just hours after the start of hostilities of the First World War.
The position of the local authority flies in the face of Scottish Government policy, which the council says it follows.
Protocol states the Red Ensign should be flown from all Scottish Government buildings, and the Saltire flown in addition when there is more than one flagpole.
Montrose and District SNP Councillor Bill Duff has objected to the Saltire being removed to fly the Red Ensign at the Ballhouse for the day, and argues it should be flown elsewhere, citing support from constituents for his position.
However, former Angus SNP councillor Ron Scrimgeour has hit out at Mr Duff.
He said: “Councillor Duff would do well to remember that the Saltire is the flag of the Scottish nation as a whole and not the sole province of the SNP.
“Lowering the Saltire for a such a short period of time and raising the Red Ensign will be welcomed by many more people than the totally unscientific statistic quoted from Mr Duff’s Facebook ‘friends’.”
A spokesperson for Angus Council said: “The decision was taken to fly the Red Ensign for one day only every year by Richard Stiff, former Chief Executive of Angus Council, in consultation with the then Provost, Helen Oswald, and the Pageant Master for VE Day 70th Anniversary celebrations in 2015.
“It was agreed as a civic matter and therefore in the remit of the Provost, that the flag would fly for one day 3 September, which is Merchant Navy day, to mark the contribution of the Merchant Navy in WWII.
“Last year an approach was made by Councillor Ron Sturrock to request that this flag fly at the Montrose Ballhouse to which the Provost agreed, subject to the flag alternating between Arbroath and Montrose as both have strong maritime heritages.
“Angus Council only has one Red Ensign so flying in two locations is not proposed.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We greatly value the contribution the Merchant Navy makes to Scotland and the Veterans Minister will attend a special event to mark Merchant Navy Day in Arbroath next month.
“It is a matter for each individual local authority which flags they choose to fly from their buildings. The Scottish Government oversee the flying of flags from Scottish Government buildings only.”
