Glasgow City Council has voted to deny the Royal Regiment of Scotland the Freedom of the City on the regiment’s 20th anniversary, a decision that has drawn criticism from politicians across party lines.

The SNP-controlled council rejected the honour despite half of Scotland’s 32 local authorities having already granted Freedom status to the regiment. The Freedom of Dundee is due to be conferred on the regiment next month. A Glasgow Labour councillor said the decision broke a tradition the city had maintained for generations, and that SNP councillors had described granting organisations Freedom of the City as “inherently problematic.”

Paul Sweeney MSP, a former member of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, said he was ashamed by the decision. “As a former member of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, I am ashamed by the crass refusal by Glasgow City Council to grant the Freedom of the City of Glasgow to the Regiment on its 20th anniversary. There are hundreds of serving and former members who are Glaswegian. We lost friends in Afghanistan and Iraq. Half of Scotland’s 32 local authorities have already granted Freedom status to the Royal Regiment of Scotland.” He called on the council to reconsider what he described as a tone deaf decision.

James Adams, Partick East and Kelvindale Councillor and Glasgow Labour Group Whip, called the vote astonishing. “Astonishing that Glasgow City Council has voted to deny the Royal Regiment of Scotland Freedom of the City of Glasgow, breaking a tradition that Glasgow has had for generations,” he said.

Conservative MP Andrew Bowie described it as a shocking decision. “The service of our men and women in the Armed Forces, who stand ready to fight and defend our way of life should be recognised and rewarded. The Royal Regiment of Scotland should have the Freedom of our largest city,” he said.

Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge and former Security Minister, drew on Glasgow’s deep military history in his response. “Glasgow is a great city. Its connection to HM Armed Forces goes back generations. Sailors and soldiers set off from the Clyde to fight for the King for centuries. Ships brought trade and wealth leading to the glorious past that made the once ‘second city of empire’ one of the most amazing cities in Britain today. Rejecting that history won’t change the past but it says clearly what some think of those who walked these streets before. That’s a choice. It says everything,” he said.

The Royal Regiment of Scotland was formed on 28 March 2006 through the amalgamation of the six single-battalion Scottish infantry regiments of the British Army. It is the largest regiment in the British Army and recruits across Scotland, with a particular connection to Glasgow and the west of Scotland. The regiment served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and continues to deploy on operations worldwide.

George Allison
George Allison
George Allison is the founder and editor of the UK Defence Journal. He holds a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and specialises in naval and cyber security topics. George has appeared on national radio and television to provide commentary on defence and security issues. Twitter: @geoallison
X

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

4 COMMENTS

  4. I’d like better clarity in understanding this decision, a proper explanation from the Council. “Problematic” is not an explanation, just a word.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here