FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Scottish Parliament voted 64/54 in favour of keeping the EU flag flying after the UK leaves the bloc in 48 hours. The vote was justified on the basis 62 percent of Scots voted to remain in the EU referendum in 2016. Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh had urged ministers not to politicise the issue, saying the flags flown at Holyrood “reflect our relationships in law”.

Holyrood's pro-independence majority voted in favour of the motion, arguing "a referendum should be held so that the people of Scotland can decide whether they wish it to become an independent country". The Scottish Government has proposed that the vote should happen in 2020, but would need to acquire powers from Westminster to hold a referendum - something Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will not authorise. MSPs voted by 64 to 54 in favour of the Government's motion, with no abstentions.

Scottish Parliament voted 63/54 in favour of keeping the EU flag

Despite Scotland’s protest to Brexit, Nigel Farage today issued a scathing attack on the EU

Conservative, Labour and Lib Dem amendments were all voted down. MSPs also voted in favour of keeping the European flag flying outside the Parliament building "as a sign of support and solidarity with those EU nationals who have made Scotland their home", despite Brexit. The cross-party Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body had voted unanimously to lower the flag when the UK comes out of the bloc on Friday, but following the vote in Parliament it has now been ordered to "ensure that the European flag continues to fly daily at the Parliament building". READ NOW: ‘Put your flags away and take them with you!’ Farage cut off [NEWS]

Mr Farage and his party waved the UK flag

Brexit is in 48 hours

Despite Scotland’s protest to Brexit, Nigel Farage today issued a scathing attack on the EU in a speech that saw the Brexit Party leader bow Britain out of the bloc in preparation for the January 31 exit. The leading Brexiteer said the UK had shown it was "too big to bully" by sticking to the result of the Brexit referendum. Mr Farage said: "I want Brexit to start a debate across the rest of Europe.

Trending