The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland has said it will not challenge a “ludicrous” ruling preventing members from laying a wreath at a Forfar war memorial claiming it would be a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Scotland’s largest Protestant fraternity was speaking from its Glasgow HQ after an Angus Tory councillor sparked outrage by leading calls to prevent the town’s Wishart Arch Defenders Loyal Orange Lodge 444 from making the tribute at Forfar Cross during a parade on Saturday.
The strength of feeling against former serviceman Jim Millar is such that some supporters have intimated plans to start a campaign aimed at ousting him from his Arbroath East and Lunan seat at next year’s local council elections.
A Facebook group set up to protest the decision has also attracted support from across the UK and Northern Ireland, with many users going as far as accusing councillors of bigotry and sectarianism.
The Courier understands that officials at the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland had considered attending a full meeting of Angus Council tonight in order to state its case to members ahead of the procession.
However, a spokesman has confirmed that the organisation will not be presenting a deputation to councillors this afternoon at Forfar’s Town and County Hall.
He said, “We are disappointed but not surprised that Angus Council can make such a ludicrous decision but we will not waste our time and council funds by challenging it.
“Everyone has the right to remember those who made the supreme sacrifice in both world wars and in recent conflicts regardless of race, colour or creed,” he said. “This should not be exclusive to councillors.”
Mr Millar argued that his decision, which was backed by his fellow councillors sitting on the civic licensing committee, was made on the grounds that the gesture would be inappropriate as the memorial honoured those of all religious denominations who died in service.
When notified of the adverse reaction to this late last week he insisted he was standing by his decision.
However, those who have joined in online discussions on the matter are continuing to express disbelief at the ruling.
James McCorkell, an active Orangeman who is a Democratic Unionist Party councillor for Limavady in Northern Ireland, has described the local authority’s stance on the issue as being a “bigoted, intolerant and self- serving decision” made by “people supposedly elected to serve all the people.”