Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A former SNP MP has vowed to demolish the Queen's Gallery in Edinburgh and create a "Freedom Square".

George Kerevan, who lost his East Lothian seat during the 2017 General Election to Labour's Martin Whitfield , wants to level the art gallery which sits across the road from the Scottish Parliament building in the capital.

In its place he wants to create a "Freedom Square" between the parliament and Holyrood Palace , which would be renamed the "President's House" and be used by Scotland's new elected head of state.

The art gallery was opened by The Queen in 2002, as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Taking to his verified Twitter account, George Kerevan said: "After independence we will demolish the Queen’s Gallery and create a ‘Freedom Square’ between the Scottish Parliament and the President’s House in the former Holyrood Palace."

During the heated Scottish independence referendum in 2014, then First Minister Alex Salmond stressed that an independent Scotland would keep the Queen as head of state if the country voted Yes.

(Image: Twitter)

However, not everyone in the Yes campaign agreed with many supporting a republican state.

A YouGov poll in September 2014 suggested 54 per cent of Scots favoured keeping the monarchy if Scotland voted 'Yes', compared to 39 per cent who wanted rid of the Royals.

(Image: Twitter)

Leading SNP MEP Alyn Smith has also called for a referendum on whether Scotland should become a republic or stick with the British monarchy after independence.

Kerevan's latest comments come as thousands of people marched through the streets of Edinburgh for the All Under One Banner rally.

(Image: Daily Record)

The march kicked off at 1pm at Holyrood Park before finishing in The Meadows.

SNP MPs and celebrities are lined up to speak at the event, including Joanna Cherry, comedian Janey Godley, broadcaster Hardeep Singh Kohli, and former MSP Tommy Sheridan.