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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Orange warning over Union danger | Orange warning over Union danger |
| (about 18 hours later) | |
| Scotland's most senior Orangeman has warned that the Union is under threat at this year's Holyrood elections. | Scotland's most senior Orangeman has warned that the Union is under threat at this year's Holyrood elections. |
| The Grand Master of the Grand Orange lodge of Scotland, Ian Wilson, said voters would have to be "careful" if they wanted to keep the Union together. | The Grand Master of the Grand Orange lodge of Scotland, Ian Wilson, said voters would have to be "careful" if they wanted to keep the Union together. |
| His comments came at a march through central Edinburgh to celebrate 300 years of the Union with England. | His comments came at a march through central Edinburgh to celebrate 300 years of the Union with England. |
| Mr Wilson also said he was "concerned" that there had been little celebration to mark the anniversary. | Mr Wilson also said he was "concerned" that there had been little celebration to mark the anniversary. |
| Orange Lodges from across the UK marched alongside 80 bands through the capital on Saturday afternoon. | Orange Lodges from across the UK marched alongside 80 bands through the capital on Saturday afternoon. |
| We're saying that the Union has been good for Scotland and will continue to be good for Scotland Ian WilsonOrange Order in Scotland | We're saying that the Union has been good for Scotland and will continue to be good for Scotland Ian WilsonOrange Order in Scotland |
| Speaking at a rally in the Meadows beforehand, Mr Wilson outlined the reasons for holding the march. | Speaking at a rally in the Meadows beforehand, Mr Wilson outlined the reasons for holding the march. |
| "We were a wee bit concerned in the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland that there didn't seem to be much in the way of celebration about the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union," he said. | "We were a wee bit concerned in the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland that there didn't seem to be much in the way of celebration about the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union," he said. |
| "We felt as a Unionist organisation that there deserved to be. | "We felt as a Unionist organisation that there deserved to be. |
| "It surprises me that the best that seems to have been done is that a new £2 coin has been struck, apparently a train has been named, and beyond that there hasn't been anything exciting at all. | "It surprises me that the best that seems to have been done is that a new £2 coin has been struck, apparently a train has been named, and beyond that there hasn't been anything exciting at all. |
| "The other factor is with having a parliamentary election this year and the Scottish National Party apparently riding so high in the polls, this has put an extra impetus on this event." | "The other factor is with having a parliamentary election this year and the Scottish National Party apparently riding so high in the polls, this has put an extra impetus on this event." |
| 'Be canny' | 'Be canny' |
| Mr Wilson said that part of the message from the event was that people also needed to "work for the Union". | Mr Wilson said that part of the message from the event was that people also needed to "work for the Union". |
| He added: "We're saying that the Union has been good for Scotland and will continue to be good for Scotland. | He added: "We're saying that the Union has been good for Scotland and will continue to be good for Scotland. |
| "I think Scots people have to be a wee bit canny and a wee bit careful on 3 May as to how they vote in the parliamentary election." | "I think Scots people have to be a wee bit canny and a wee bit careful on 3 May as to how they vote in the parliamentary election." |
| More than 12,000 Orangemen were commemorating the old Scottish Parliament voting itself out of existence and politically coupling Scotland with England in 1707. | More than 12,000 Orangemen were commemorating the old Scottish Parliament voting itself out of existence and politically coupling Scotland with England in 1707. |
| A commemorative £2 coin was launched in January to mark the unification of England and Scotland into Great Britain. | A commemorative £2 coin was launched in January to mark the unification of England and Scotland into Great Britain. |