SCOTTISH Parliament security stepped in to have a woman’s t-shirt “removed” because it displayed a quote from the late Alex Salmond, Yes activists have said.
A group of people with the Aye Aberdeen campaign group had travelled to Holyrood over the weekend to sign the book of condolences for the former first minister, which has been opened in the parliament.
Images shared on social media showed one of the Yes campaigners standing next to the memorial book wearing a plain blue Nike t-shirt, with a quote from Salmond’s final social media post printed on the back.
It said: “Scotland is a country, not a county.”
Aye Aberdeen said in a post on Facebook that the shirt had been deemed “too political”.
Sharing an image of the slogan, the group said: “Just after this photo was taken security came over. The t-shirt had to be removed. It was deemed too political.
“It’s a statement of fact. Scotland is a country. Yet security deemed it not suitable to be said in ‘the people’s parliament’.”
The allegation sparked anger on social media, and within Salmond’s Alba Party.
“A disgrace. So now it seems to be that you cannot wear something that states the truth,” one user replied.
“No way! Totally unacceptable,” a second said. “I think that I would just have ignored them and continued to sign the book ... Scotland is a country NOT a county!”
A source within Alba, which Salmond founded and led until his death, also expressed concern.
They told The National: “Scotland is a country not a county. This is a statement of fact.
“If the powers that be in the Scottish Parliament think this statement is political then they are quite clearly not working in the interests of Scotland.”
A shocking disgrace at Holyrood when signing Alex Salmond book of condolences. The sentence printed on the T-shirt was deemed “political”. It is a fact. Besides - it is the people’s parliament - where politics exist! @AlbaParty pic.twitter.com/X7kWGTafSu
— ALBA Aberdeen (@AlbaAbdn) October 28, 2024
Alba Aberdeen added on Twitter/X: "A shocking disgrace at Holyrood when signing Alex Salmond book of condolences.
"The sentence printed on the T-shirt was deemed 'political'. It is a fact. Besides – it is the people’s parliament – where politics exist!"
The Scottish Parliament website states that, for all visits, there is a policy that “protests are not allowed inside the building”.
It adds: “Banners, flags and political slogans are forbidden.”
A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: “The Parliament’s visitor behaviour policy prohibits the display of flags, banners and political slogans inside the Holyrood building, including on clothing and accessories.
“Visitors displaying political slogans are asked to remove or cover up such items before being allowed entry.
“However, to avoid anyone being turned away on Saturday, the Parliament set up a second Book of Condolence within the public entrance to Holyrood.
“This gave visitors the choice of signing the book there without having to remove any slogans, or proceeding into the Parliament’s Main Hall where the other Book of Condolence has been located for public use.
“The Alba Party’s website highlighted the Parliament’s visitor policy to cavalcade participants on Friday.”
