Politician Chooses Emails Over Queen Elizabeth

03 July 2009

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Britain's Queen Elizabeth was snubbed by 50 MSPs on her visit to Holyrood - with one opting to check her emails instead.

Former Presiding officer George Reid described their absence from the visit - which was to mark the 10th anniversary of devolution, when Scotland got its own government - as "sad".

He said: "I was a little disappointed by the fact that not every seat was filled. I thought there might have been a three-line whip.

"It may be that people are off on holiday already, I don't know. But how nice for the Queen to come 10 years down the road. She launched the process. She's now here at the start of the next stage."

Obviously we would have liked a bigger turnout but nothing has detracted from the fact this was a highly successful day

Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) member Christine Grahame was one of the 50 who refused to attend, saying it would have been "hypocritical of her".

Instead, she spent the morning "going through her emails".

She told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I'm earning and working for my constituents far more than if I sit hypocritically in the chamber watching a monarch for an institution I do not support. I can't speak for other people. I do not think it's a snub. I think it's honesty."

A spokesperson for the Scottish Parliament praised the "highly successful" day but admitted they were disappointed by the turnout.

He said: "We recognise there was not a full turnout but can confirm that we had confirmation from 84 members that they would be present.

"Obviously we would have liked a bigger turnout but nothing has detracted from the fact this was a highly successful day."

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