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ORGANISERS of the 2014 Battle of Bannockburn celebrations yesterday vowed that politicians will not hijack the party.

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) are refusing to hire out stalls to supporters of the Yes Scotland independence campaign or the pro-union Better Together group.

There will also be a clampdown on displaying political banners and leafleting at the three-day event next June – just months before the independence referendum.

The 700th anniversary festival to mark Robert the Bruce’s victory over the English army of Edward II is expected to attract around 45,000 people.

A spokesman for the NTS – who are being given £250,000 from Scottish Government agencies for the event – said: “It is a non-political event, full stop.

“We are talking about concessions for sale of produce, sale of merchandise, that sort of thing. We have a veto on the products and produce that are sold so, clearly, anything that we regard as unsuitable for what will be a family event would not be allowed to be sold.

“We won’t be allowing banners in other than the types that are being sold within the arena area.”

Family tickets for the festival on the outskirts of Stirling will cost £40 a day.

Murdo Fraser, Tory convener of the Scottish Parliament’s enterprise, energy and tourism committee, said: “Prohibiting the presence of political stalls, banners, canvassing and leafleting will be essential in creating a family-friendly atmosphere.

“Bannockburn 2014 is aimed at those wishing to commemorate our shared history, free from the pressure of political campaigning.

“I was previously concerned that the SNP and Yes Scotland would hijack this event to promote their separatist agenda.

“Now, armed with the knowledge that this will not be allowed, I am confident that the event will remain free from political undertones.”

A Better Together spokesman said: “All eyes will rightly be on the Scottish Government in the run-up to the referendum.

“I think the public would take a very dim view if they thought that this was in any way part of a

propaganda exercise ahead of the vote. Bannockburn should be all about bringing people into Scotland to generate money for the Scottish economy, not politics ahead of the referendum. We very much welcome the moves by the National Trust.”

A spokesman for Yes Scotland said: “We respect their position of neutrality. Yes Scotland is a movement rather than a political party.”

But the NTS clampdown does not extend to slogans on clothing such as T-shirts. They said: “People can wear what they like but, with 15,000 people expected each day, I don’t think a few people wearing T-shirts will make much difference.”

Up to 1000 volunteers from the nearby Clanranald Trust and overseas will take part in a re-enactment dressed as soldiers and knights.

Other events planned include weapon demonstrations and an encampment plus stalls with Scottish crafts, food and other produce.

The NTS are spending £9.1million on a new centre at the site.