A debate at the Scottish Parliament on the legacy of Baroness Thatcher will go ahead today after being moved to avoid being held on the day of her funeral.
MSPs on the Green-Independent group agreed to change the timing after hearing claims that it was “provocative and insensitive”.
Conservatives complained, with support from the Liberal Democrats.
Tory chief whip John Lamont said: “We have absolutely no problem taking part in this debate and will do so robustly and passionately. Our only issue was the timing, and that has now been resolved.”
Green and Independent MSPs were allocated the Wednesday debating slot in March.
Following Baroness Thatcher’s death, the group put forward the legacy of Thatcherism as the debate’s subject matter.
The group aims to highlight concerns about the “failed” economic model of the deregulated free market and the impact of Thatcherism on the referendum debate.
Independent MSP John Finnie, the group’s representative on the Parliament’s business bureau, said it became clear there was a mood to reschedule.
“By having the debate on Thursday afternoon, we can ensure the maximum number of MSPs can take part and, in particular, ensure those on the Tory benches answer for the terrible effect on Scotland of 13 years of policies that promoted selfishness over society,” he said.
First Minister Alex Salmond, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick and other Scottish politicians were at the funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral in London yesterday.
In pictures: Pomp and protests for funeral of Baroness Thatcher