Yuku free message boards

Scotland's politicians delivered an astonishing snub to the Queen yesterday as she marked the tenth anniversary of devolution.

More than a third of MSPs did not bother to turn up for an historic royal visit to the Scottish parliament by Her Majesty.

As she shrugged off a bad cold to deliver a speech praising the work of Holyrood, dozens of seats in the chamber were conspicuously empty.

The shameful sight will serve as a further slap in the face for those that feel that the huge sums of money spent on the Scottish Parliament could be better employed elsewhere.

By March this year, a capital budget of £430.8million had been spent by the parliament on the Edinburgh building.

At the same time, the revenue costs of running Holyrood have soared from £24.2million in 1999 to £71.6million in the most recent year.

Yesterday, the shameful excuses offered up by politicians for their absences included umpiring a cricket match, moving office and opening a footpath.

Embarrassed MSPs admitted the poor attendance - 81 out of 129 - had shamed the country on what should have been a day of celebration.

Holyrood officials were forced to invite 15 members of parliamentary staff to sit in MSPs' seats, to create the appearance of a full chamber.

But several MSPs were unrepentant last night.

Nationalist Bob Doris chose to meet asylum seekers in Glasgow, Tory Liz Smith was umpiring a cricket game in Belgium and Green MSP Patrick Harvie chose to move constituency office instead.

Outspoken Nationalist backbencher Christine Grahame said she had 'no intention' of ever attending because of her republican beliefs.

Amazingly, six of Alex Salmond's ministers also snubbed the Queen.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson opted to open a cruise liner terminal in Greenock, Renfrewshire, while Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham - often dubbed 'Republican Rose' for her anti-monarchy beliefs - opened a path in Kilsyth, Dunbartonshire.

Yesterday's event was held to mark the official anniversary of the Scottish parliament and was attended by children who were born on July 1, 1999.

Heaping even further embarrassment on the politicians, 143 of the 163 children born in Scotland that day turned up for the celebrations.

Scottish Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser said: 'It's understandable that at this time of year, there will be some MSPs who have made commitments - but it was a disappointing turnout at a very important occasion.

'There needs to be some reflection on the part of the event organisers and some MSPs themselves.

'If we are having the Queen coming to the parliament, as Head of State, it doesn't do its reputation much good if a large number of elected members don't turn up.'

One MSP added: 'There should have been a three-line whip for MSPs to attend. And organisers should have promoted it better.'

Another said: 'Parliament broke up for recess last week. The organisers should have thought about this and held the event last Friday.'

However, the celebrations were first announced last October, meaning MSPs could not claim to have been unaware of the day's events.

A Holyrood spokesman said: 'Obviously we would have liked a bigger turnout but nothing has detracted from the fact this was a highly successful day.'

Of the 48 MSPs who did not attend, the biggest number came - unsurprisingly - from SNP benches.

Although Mr Salmond insists the Queen would remain head of state in an independent Scotland, 21 of his MSPs were absent.

South of Scotland MSP Mrs Grahame said: 'I'm a republican, plain and simple as that. I had no intention of being there and I made my position clear before the event.

'I don't want to be seen as a hypocrite because I don't believe in the aristocracy running our country - you should earn your right in life.'

Glasgow MSP Bob Doris said: 'I'm a republican but I don't have any resentment to the monarchy. I prioritised my duties on a day where there were job losses in Glasgow at Diageo and that takes priority over glad- handing the Queen. I had a home visit and a meeting with asylum seekers.'

As well as Miss Cunningham and Mr Stevenson, the other absent ministers were: Parliamentary Business Minister Bruce Crawford, who was visiting a war memorial in France, Children's Minister Adam Ingram and Enterprise Minister Jim Mather who were on holiday, and Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead who was in Campbeltown, Argyll, announcing plans for a new creamery.

A Nationalist spokesman said: 'A majority of SNP MSPs were in attendance both today and at an anniversary event on Friday.' There were 17 absences from the Labour benches, including former party leader Wendy Alexander, who was on holiday.

A party spokesman said: 'Labour had the largest attendance of any party. There were 29 Labour MSPs present. Four could not attend as they had constituency business, one was speaking at a conference, another had business at the House of Lords and three could not make it for medical reasons.

'A further eight had already booked their holidays before we were notified about the Queen's visit.'

There were five LibDem and three Tory absences. Lothians Tory MSP Gavin Brown had a good excuse, however, after becoming a father the night before.

Greens leader Patrick Harvie snubbed the Queen so that he could move to a new office, while Independent Lothians MSP Margo MacDonald planned to attend, but had fallen ill.

A Palace spokesman said: 'The Queen was delighted to be there. She has been very involved and committed with the Scottish parliament since 1999 and that commitment remains undimmed.'

Referring to the absentee rate, he added: 'It did not detract from a very successful day and there was no offence taken.'

In her speech, the Queen paid tribute to the the parliament, saying it was now 'at the heart of Scottish life and culture.'

The excuses given by ten unrepentant politicians

Here are the reasons that ten MSPs gave for their absence from the Scottish parliament chamber yesterday:

ROSEANNA CUNNINGHAM (SNP Minister for Environment, Perth): Opening a waterways path network in Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire.

BOB DORIS (SNP, Glasgow): Meeting asylum seekers in Glasgow. CHRISTINE GRAHAME (SNP, South of Scotland): No intention of attending owing to republican views.

CHRISTOPHER HARVIE (SNP Mid-Scotland and Fife): At conference in Cardiff about the global financial crisis.

RICHARD LOCHHEAD (SNP Rural Affairs and Environment Secretary, Moray): In Campbeltown, announcing plans for a new creamery.

STEWART STEVENSON (SNP Minister for Transport, Banff and Buchan): Opening a new cruise liner terminal in Greenock.

SARAH BOYACK ( Labour, Edinburgh Central): At an awards ceremony for women returning to work.

LIZ SMITH (Tory, Mid Scotland and Fife): Umpiring a girls' cricket tour in Belgium.

JAMIE MCGRIGOR (Conservative, Highlands and Islands): Meeting with the head of the Independent Review of Water Rescue Services in Scotland.

PATRICK HARVIE (Green, Glasgow): Moving constituency office.

Daily Mail