A PETITION seeking to retract Jackie Baillie’s damehood has gained thousands of signatures.
The MSP and deputy leader of Scottish Labour was made a dame in June, in part for having put “the good of the country first”.
Coming as one of the honours handed out in the King’s birthday list, Baillie was made a “Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire” – the first sitting MSP to be handed such a title.
But now a petition on change.org has reached over 5000 signatures calling for the title to be retracted.
John Paul Warrillow, who started it, said: “This country’s damehood’s, peerages and knights were once given to people who deserved it.”
He added: “This appointment is doing nothing but adding to an already damaged award system. This damehood must be retracted and condemned in the strongest possible terms.”
Giving her reason for signing, Pauline McCormack from Bellshill said: “Jackie Baillie has done immeasurable damage in Scotland. Voting against feeding children, voting to pollute our waters with nuclear waste.”
George Duffy said: “Although I agree sometimes with her, she always demands answers EXCEPT from her own party.”
Lynn Burns added: "I believe people in positions of public service should lead by example. This is the wrong kind of example. Why exactly is she being honoured?"
