Scottish Government unfazed at coalition plans to hijack Armed Forces Day

Sunday, 25 August 2013 22:55

By a Newsnet reporter

The Scottish Government has welcomed news that Stirling will hold the 2014 Armed Forces Day.

Veterans Minister Keith Brown said he was “delighted” that the event, which was held in Edinburgh in 2011, was returning to Scotland.

Responding to the news, the SNP MSP recalled the Edinburgh event, saying:

“That was a magnificent event and this gives a further opportunity for people across Scotland to show how much they support and appreciate the selfless service of our servicemen and women.

“The Scottish Government has demonstrated its full commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community in Scotland.

“Our policies and initiatives have made a real difference and our approach has been warmly welcomed and acknowledged as being ‘ahead of the game’ in comparison to the rest of the UK administrations by Veterans Scotland and the military in Scotland.”

However the announcement was tempered by the news the UK coalition intends to politicise the event in an effort at boosting support for the Union.

Mr Brown said he was not concerned about the UK coalition’s plans to use the event for political ends saying there was “no patience” amongst the electorate for those who used the military in this way.

UK Defence Secretary Philip Hammond claimed the parades would serve as a reminder of the UK’s military power: “They remind us in a very graphic way that we are stronger together.

“Britain, the United Kingdom and Scotland benefit from the scale and the power and the capability of our armed forces.”

The parades are planned to be held in June and it is believed Stirling was chosen in an attempt at dampening the feelings of sentiment and patriotism that will surround the marking of the 700th anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn, which is also being held in the city that month.

The independence referendum will be held three months later which will ask the Scottish electorate: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”

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Comments

# maisiedotts 2013-08-25 21:56

I tend to agree with Keith Brown and I suspect it could have the opposite effect to that desired by Philip Hammond.

Rubbing our noses in it just puts Scottish hackles up (pun intended), our businesses will be laughing all the way to the bank and the electorate just ain’t that dumb.

# bringiton 2013-08-25 22:07

The idiots in London think that patriotism is entirely about military exploits.
This idea died after WW1 but it seems Westminster doesn’t get it yet.
We must honour the people who gave their lives in just causes in the past but ensure that no more do so in future where it is determined by corporate interests and their politicians.

# Breeks 2013-08-25 22:19

Sounds like they’re just trying to needle us with a Military Tattoo.

# Alan 2013-08-25 22:22

Will the sight of kilted soldiers marching through Stirling engender pride amongst the Scots and encourage thoughts of independence or will the sight of what are perceived to be English soldiers marching through Stirling engender a sense of subjugation amongst the Scots and encourage thoughts of independence?

# macdonald88 2013-08-26 12:08

Obviously Alan wasn’t present when 3rd Battalion The Rifles was granted the freedom of Edinburgh earlier this year. Looked to me like plenty of Scots were happy to celebrate this acknowledgement of a fine unit’s commitment to the city and the nation. Maybe that’s because the majority feel safer with the British Army, Royal Navy and RAF protecting them…

# BillyMac 2013-08-26 17:47

This is the 3rd rifles whose barrack windows are covered in St Georges cross flags?
This is the same navy who took more than 24 hours to get a ship up to Scotland when a couple of Russian ships anchored off the Scottish coast.
This is the same air force who have to rely on a foreign nation to provide long range cover in the North Sea.

# macdonald88 2013-08-26 22:34

??? Not sure what the flags issue is about. Scottish units display saltires in England and Germany. It’s not a problem.
At least the Royal Navy has some ships and submarines worth deploying – SNP plans seem to miss out these capabilities.
And yes, Scotland is protected by NATO aircraft – and SNP policy is that it will remain so. Many of those NATO fast jets are flown by the RAF – an independent Scotland won’t be able to afford any state of the art jets. Fact.

# mudfries 2013-08-25 22:22

Who was it that abolished Scotland’s historic regiments again? the same Unionist politicians who now want to use the armed forces for a parade when it suites them, shouldn’t be surprised though, Westminster party’s have always treated and used our armed forces shamefully.

# colin8652 2013-08-25 22:30

Simply another mis-guided corny piece of Imperialism that will not fool Scotland’s people. We should all attend in support of the troops, armed with Saltires.

# call me dave 2013-08-25 23:15

Here we go again!
—————————-
10:00PM BST 25 Aug 2013
Royal Navy vessels are being readied to take part in a possible series of cruise missile strikes, alongside the United States, as military commanders finalise a list of potential targets.
—————————–
telegraph.co.uk/…/…

# jamaisarriere 2013-08-26 00:15

Well, since they’ve reduced the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders to a ceremonial unit, it’s awfy decent of them to give them a ceremony to take part in, and a home tie at that. Once the cuts really kick in, let’s hope they’re not marching with pikes and pitchforks…..

# call me dave 2013-08-26 00:34

Oh Goody!
————————-
But ahead of their conference at the end of next month, senior Tory ministers including Mr Osborne, who chairs the Cabinet committee on Scotland, are expected to tour Scottish cities. A UK government spokesman said: “We promised to make the positive case for Scotland staying part of the UK and so far we have produced hundreds of pages of analysis. Analysis that no-one has challenged. Cheaper mortgages, safer banks and more jobs are all part of the evidence that we have laid out for the Scottish people.”

scotsman.com/…/…

This too.
scotsman.com/…/…

# Hirta 2013-08-26 00:41

YES flag will be in attendance..

# clootie 2013-08-26 07:32

Oh for they days when the “enemy” only had spears and we had the lee enfield. We could take their land and protect them from the “other” empires. We could then make them British and have them run their own country for us.

Yes let us celebrate the empire and although we no longer support the military personnel as we should we can still nuke someone.

I admire the courage of our armed forces members that does not mean I agree with how they are being misused .

It is a sad act when you try to twist the support for our forces into political support..

These days I cannot seem to move without a union flag appearing or see a TV programmes without “British” in the title. This is just the latest game.

# Breeks 2013-08-26 08:06

The Lee in Lee Enfield was a Scottish immigrant from Hawick I believe.

# cuckooshoe 2013-08-26 21:22

Quoting clootie:

These days I cannot seem to move without a union flag appearing or see a TV programmes without “British” in the title.

There must be around 20 BBC programmes that are using the same subliminal “British” message. Coincidence? Then there is the BBC’s weather map and its use of perspective to disguise the actual size of Scotland, in relation to the other countries of the UK. It’s made worse, by the BBC not using Scottish place names to scale.

# Abulhaq 2013-08-26 09:20

BritState default mode: SEND IN THE TROOPS!
Keeping their sabre-rattling hand in before sorting out Syria?

# ButeHouse 2013-08-26 15:08

clootie says: These days I cannot seem to move without a union flag appearing or see a TV programmes without “British” in the title. This is just the latest game.

And quite right too sir! I have my union jack knickers don’t you know and various garments all the way to my union jack bow tie.

We have an 8 x 5 footer flying permanently in the garden and loud speakers playing a pleasant selection of tunes to the neighbours delight ranging from There’ll always be an England to Jerusalem.

But being a BBC Scotland presenter don’t you know, I have to keep it down a bit these days – impartiality and all that. Got to keep the Jocks happy till this Indy nonsense is out of the way, then we’ll show them what’s for. What!

VOTE YES in 388 Days

# Breeks 2013-08-26 17:55

“…My friend, you would not tell with such high zest,
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori”. Wilfred Owen.

Let them beat the drum and pretend its 1913 if they must.

I’m not convinced Scottish children are so ardent for some desperate glory, nor quite so willing to die for someone elses country, especially when that country so casually belittles and exploits our own at every given opportunity.

# MartinofGreengairs 2013-08-26 19:23

By the way, is anyone here posting on HeraldScotland.com these days?

It seems that criticism of their editorial stance is forbidden as is criticism of their journalists. It’s in their house rules.

also, criticism of the BBC and mainstream media seems forbidden as I’ve seen numerous such comments removed.

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Scottish Government unfazed at coalition plans to hijack Armed Forces Day

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