Petition · PE01569 · Session 4
Re-introduction of the Scottish Red Ensign
Signatures
0
Comments
70
Considered
3 meetings
What it asks
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to seek a warrant from the UK Government in terms of Part 1, Section 2(3)(a) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, for the re-introduction Scottish Red Ensign as an ‘informal or voluntary’ ensign for Scottish vessels.
What the petitioner did first
In 2010 the States of Jersey were granted their own ‘informal or voluntary’ Red Ensign for their vessels. As Scotland has a long and celebrated maritime history and played an important part in the development of shipping throughout the world, I wrote to my MSP, Michael Russell with the suggestion that the Scottish Government should seek similar recognition of the Scottish Red Ensign for Scottish vessels.
Following a subsequent meeting and discussions with him he suggested that since the matter had a ‘national context and implications’, rather than pursuing it on an individual basis, perhaps it would be better and more effective if an approach was made to the Scottish Parliament to seek their support in securing a warrant for the ensign in terms of Section 2 Para 3(a) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. He passed a copy my letter to Fergus Ewing MSP who advised me that the matter was a ‘reserved issue’, and suggested I contact the Red Ensign Secretariat of the Marine and Coastguard Agency.
Simultaneously I wrote to the Registrar of Shipping and Maritime Compliance of the States of Jersey to establish the procedures they adopted and also wrote to the MCA. I was advised by the MCA that the subject of granting warrants for ensigns was the responsibility of the Department of Transport and accordingly my letter had been forwarded to that Department. An official from the Department of Transport wrote, ‘the Scottish Government could seek to make known their political wish for a Scottish Ensign to be granted a warrant.’
I referred this response back to my MSP and Fergus Ewing and was advised to raise the matter with Stuart McMillan MSP in his role as Chair of the Cross Party Group on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism. He invited me to attend a meeting of this group on 22nd February 2012 to table my proposal which was received with the general support and approval of those attending. Despite stressing that the matter was being pursued on a maritime and historical rather that nationalistic basis, the Vice Chairman’s recommendation was that it should be deferred in the light of the forthcoming Independence Referendum in 2014.
In the interim two years I contacted the Editor of the Scottish Yachting Magazine ‘Yachting Life’ to try to get a wider airing the matter but he did not want to have his magazine drawn into the Independence debate however he did accept a ‘letter to the editor’ on the matter.
I have conducted ‘ad hoc’ surveys of yachtsmen, fishermen, etc when visiting marinas in my own yacht and have found general support for the proposal.
Following the result of the Referendum I again wrote to Stuart McMillan MSP to ask if the matter could come before his Cross Party Working Group once again for their support and endorsement but received the reply that his recommendation was to take the matter to the Petitions Committee.
I have since consulted my local MSP, Michael Russell, who endorsed the suggestion of an approach by way of a petition to pursue the matter.
Following a subsequent meeting and discussions with him he suggested that since the matter had a ‘national context and implications’, rather than pursuing it on an individual basis, perhaps it would be better and more effective if an approach was made to the Scottish Parliament to seek their support in securing a warrant for the ensign in terms of Section 2 Para 3(a) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. He passed a copy my letter to Fergus Ewing MSP who advised me that the matter was a ‘reserved issue’, and suggested I contact the Red Ensign Secretariat of the Marine and Coastguard Agency.
Simultaneously I wrote to the Registrar of Shipping and Maritime Compliance of the States of Jersey to establish the procedures they adopted and also wrote to the MCA. I was advised by the MCA that the subject of granting warrants for ensigns was the responsibility of the Department of Transport and accordingly my letter had been forwarded to that Department. An official from the Department of Transport wrote, ‘the Scottish Government could seek to make known their political wish for a Scottish Ensign to be granted a warrant.’
I referred this response back to my MSP and Fergus Ewing and was advised to raise the matter with Stuart McMillan MSP in his role as Chair of the Cross Party Group on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism. He invited me to attend a meeting of this group on 22nd February 2012 to table my proposal which was received with the general support and approval of those attending. Despite stressing that the matter was being pursued on a maritime and historical rather that nationalistic basis, the Vice Chairman’s recommendation was that it should be deferred in the light of the forthcoming Independence Referendum in 2014.
In the interim two years I contacted the Editor of the Scottish Yachting Magazine ‘Yachting Life’ to try to get a wider airing the matter but he did not want to have his magazine drawn into the Independence debate however he did accept a ‘letter to the editor’ on the matter.
I have conducted ‘ad hoc’ surveys of yachtsmen, fishermen, etc when visiting marinas in my own yacht and have found general support for the proposal.
Following the result of the Referendum I again wrote to Stuart McMillan MSP to ask if the matter could come before his Cross Party Working Group once again for their support and endorsement but received the reply that his recommendation was to take the matter to the Petitions Committee.
I have since consulted my local MSP, Michael Russell, who endorsed the suggestion of an approach by way of a petition to pursue the matter.
Where it was considered
Official Report-
7 Sep 20151 mention
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1 Dec 20151 mention
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9 Feb 20161 mention
Signatures by country
531 online signaturesComments
70 comments, oldest first70 comments · showing 1–50
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Gerard Clark 28 May 2015On yer sail!
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james phimister 28 May 2015yes!
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Eleanor haig 28 May 2015It's time to start sorting things out ,will make independence that little bit closer
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Shona mcdougall 28 May 2015Go George!
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bruce anderson 28 May 2015Freedom to all scots
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Dave Nairn at Freedom Sailing 28 May 2015The Scots Red Ensign has and will always be flown from yacht 'Saorsa' in both Scottish and foreign waters. Even if this petition is unsuccessfull we will fly our Scots Red Ensign in contravention to the UK's Merchant Shipping Act 1995. I reject the claim and do not believe this is disrespectfull to sailors who have previously sailed under the British ensign. AdditionalIy, I do not agree that it should be the Queens decision to decide which flag is flown from Scottish vessels and think that its time to dissociate the 'royal' family from theses issues. This change is a necessary first step in the voyage to change the perception that sailing is an elitist pastime or occupation.
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Craig jardine 28 May 2015The Scottish ensign is hundreds of years old. We want it back. Who made it illegal?
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Steve Laughton 28 May 2015No one would object to an English Ensign and in effect, this is what is used as an Ensign for the Royal Navy. For this reason, it should be lawfully permitted for the Scots to use a Red Ensign with the Saltire in the quarter for civic or merchant use.
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John Keating 28 May 2015I might be English but don't hold that against me. Fully support this petition, if it isn't successful, do it anyway. I don't remember electing Liz Windsor, so I don't see why she should have any say in the matter.
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stuart thomas allison 28 May 2015I feel this is an important issue that Scotland flag should be in place of the union jack
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MARY VASEY 28 May 2015Well done guys Scotland forever aye
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terry howson 28 May 2015for my sailing friend so that he can sail under the scottish ensign
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Ewan MacArthur 28 May 2015To be a Nation Again
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John Rushworth 29 May 2015I think this will only serve to confuse. I really don't understand why this gentleman currently wears such an historic ensign in contraventation of the UK Merchant Shiiping Act 1995. 99% of us are quite happy to abide by the rules and observe discipline as suggested by the UK's accepted organisation for leisure boaters. The RYA. Indeed why should those of us that wear a special ensign such as an undefaced blue go to the trouble of paying for and obtaining a warrant. There is currently no place for a Scottish Ensign unless of course this petition succeeds.
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Gilbert Roy Ross 29 May 2015We should be recognisable as Scottish not just British when afloat.
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Anne Dunlop 29 May 2015Excellent petition, and long overdue.
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Anne Dunlop 29 May 2015Excellent idea and long overdue. Saor Alba!
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margaret burns 29 May 2015Our identity must be preserved on the seas and land e must stand up for our heritage always
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Gil McCurdie 29 May 2015Time to bring back all that we recognise as Scottish and reclaim our identity
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Robert M MacLeod 29 May 2015At long last,thank you George
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Douglas Thomson 29 May 2015Sailed solo round world 1999-2002 flying Scottish Red Ensign. Only 2 English yachtsmen objected.
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Peter Wallace 29 May 2015Aye, about time too
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Donald Gillies 29 May 2015Scotland and her true heritage must be restored.
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Alan James Magnus-Bennett 29 May 2015My father served in the royal Navy during WW2 and would have been proud to sail under a Scottish Ensign as well.
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William Gray 29 May 2015FREE US
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Danny Watkins 29 May 2015My dad was Merchant Navy
- I will ask him to sign this too. -
James Hume 29 May 2015The Scottish Maritime Flag should restored to all Scottish Shipping
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Tommy Walker aka Thomas Walker 29 May 2015Freedom..
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Donald Macdonald 29 May 2015I'll put one on my mirror dinghy!
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Reeni Kennedy-Boyle 29 May 2015be great to aflotila of these when passed
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Norman Martin MNM 29 May 2015Shipmates wishing to see restoration of Scottish merchant navy ensign.
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JANETTE CAMPBELL 29 May 2015Any thing that woud keep our heritage in view for other generations!
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Robert Dennis 29 May 2015this flag should be proudly flown by Scottish Mariner's . ( at the moment it means in British nautical circles ' my ship is dead in the water ' ) time to promote this flag throughout the world as our naval flag , Alba Gu Brath.
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Bill Watkins. (Ex MN) 29 May 2015I would be proud to sail under the Red Mc Duster.
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daniel cain 29 May 2015Of course Scotland should carry it's own flag on its own ships in its own waters it's only fair.
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Jimmy Waugh 29 May 2015It is time to assert our identity as a nation state
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Louise Stephen 29 May 2015Westminster like to keep their traditions so why shouldn't our seamen have their's.
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katya savage 29 May 2015We need to take our nation back before it is destroyed .Alba gu Brath !
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Anne MacGregor 29 May 2015I agree The Scottish Maritime Flag should restored to all Scottish Shipping
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Russell Hamilton 29 May 2015Another small but significant step to Indy
Saor Alba -
Alicia Murray 29 May 2015Yes the Scottish Ensign should be flown on Scottish shipping.
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Thomas friar 30 May 2015if it's a Scottish boat or ship it should have saltire.
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moira morrison 30 May 2015overturn the illegal status, it's outdated.
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Duncan Dewar 30 May 2015I wholeheartedly welcome this move to restore our historic Ensign.
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Wilma McEwan 30 May 2015I would also like to hold a Scottish passport ,see our Saltire flying from every town ,and as the petition says see ships with our ensign
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Alan Dunlop 30 May 2015I have flown my SCOTTISH red ensign from Canada to Trinidad. It was well received everywhere except for a few English boats
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Peter Crowe 30 May 2015Not only was my father a Master Mariner but as a 'bone fide' Scottish History graduate, I'd love to see the pre-1707 Scots Red Ensign having a formalised legal sttus for vessels registered in a Scottish port or for vessels owned by Scots who wish to use it.
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David Nairn 30 May 2015Vessel registration should be a devolved matter and Scotlands interests with respect to Merchant Shipping Act 1995 need to be reexamined.
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Hugh Paterson 4 Jun 2015Ship registration for all vessels registered in Scotland should be a devolved issue, the UK register of ships is in a mess for an Island Nation.
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Clive B Scott 16 Jun 2015Ensigns bearing the Union Flag are seen by Europeans as identifying a boat from England, Australia or New Zealand. The purpose of the ensign is to identify where the vessel is from or registered. My boat is registered in Glasgow and I was born and have lived my whole life in Scotland. We are constantly being asked why we fly "the English flag". From this season my boat will wear the 1707 Scottish Ensign (currently in Scandinavia). There is no reason why Westminster should not devolve this issue to Holyrood.