Sheridan: I'll boycott opening bash

Scottish Sun, 09/08/04
By ANDREW NICOLL, Scottish Political Reporter

SCOTTISH Socialist leader Tommy Sheridan and his party colleagues last night vowed to snub the Queen at the opening of Scotland's new Parliament building.
They plan to boycott the ceremony and leave their six seats at Holyrood empty in a protest against Royal pageantry.
Instead, they are planning an alternative "people's celebration" on the day.
News of the snub came as Mr Sheridan launched a scathing attack on the SNP after Parliament's Presiding Officer head George Reid accepted an appointment to the Queen's Privy Council.
The lifelong appointment will see Mr Reid titled "the Right Honourable" and allows him to add the letters PC after his name. Mr Sheridan said: “we have no wish to parade behind a feudal figurehead who symbolises elitism, privilege and deference and we find it frankly staggering that leading members of the SNP have become such ardent royalists.
"Can anyone take the SNP seriously now ? As a party they are committed to ending the union and yet here they are accepting royal patronage and desperate to tug their forelocks to the Queen at the lavish ceremony to open the politicians palace.
"Hundreds of members will be dismayed that their party has now become New SNP by Royal Appointment."
MSP's are barred from taking their seats unless they pledge allegiance to the Queen. But the Socialists made their oaths under protest.
MSP Colin Fox was ordered out during last years swearing in because he insisted on singing A Man's A Man and colleague Rosie Kane had the words "My oath is to the people" inked on her palm.