The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body has announced plans to take down the European flag on the 31st January 2020, following the UK's Withdrawal from the EU.

Scotland, and its Parliament, voted emphatically to reject Brexit, the removal of the European flag stands against that expressed will of the majority of citizens and MSPs.

Brexit aside, the European Flag represents both the EU and the Council of Europe, which the UK and Scotland will continue to remain in, as they have since its conception in 1949.

There is, therefore, no sense in the argument of the Parliament's management that it will only fly the flag for one day out of 365 days in which we are members.

This development seeks to underline the fact that we are leaving the EU, and merely placates those who would seek to force Scotland to accept a Brexit it didn't vote for.

Former MEP Alyn Smith famously called for the EU to 'leave a light on' for Scotland's return to the EU, and the First Minister has called on the EU institutions to remain in the country (a decision that has been agreed with the European Parliament until the end of 2020 at least). If we want the EU to 'leave a light on', it must work both ways.

Please sign this petition to call on Members of the Scottish Parliament to make a decision to keep the European Flag flying from the Scottish Parliament.

Photo: © Gary Paterson