Motion to replace Saltire with union flag at Stirling Council HQ dropped

Plans to stop flying the Saltire over Stirling Council’s headquarters have been shelved after councillors dramatically dropped a motion three hours before it was due to be debated.

Conservative and Labour politicians who run the local authority had hoped to push through the proposal to fly a union flag above Old Viewforth.

However, the councillors pulled the plans shortly before a council vote, blaming “worked up” SNP supporters.

The motion read: “Council notes the tone of some of the debate, especially with regards to symbols that the men and women of Stirling have fought and died under for 300 years. Council deplores this debasing of our symbols.

“Council resolves to stand up for the symbols of our country by flying the union flag from the main pole above the council building and the council flag from the freestanding flagpost in the ground of Old Viewforth.”

The motion created a storm of controversy with one senior Nationalist councillor describing it as a “silly stunt”.

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