LOCALS in a Scottish town are to stage a protest against the imposition of a name change on their local pub.
The Black Bitch is the oldest pub in the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow and reportedly dates back to the 17th-century.
However, Greene King, the brewery that owns the pub, has decided to change the name for fear of racist connotations.
Instead, the pub will be named The Black Hound.
The decision has sparked fury in the town, with local MP Martyn Day even tabling an early day motion in the Commons.
The motion, which has been signed by MPs from the SNP, Alba, and one from the Democratic Unionist Party, states: “In Linlithgow the local custom of describing locals as Black Bitches is based on the heroic greyhound who fed her master when he was incarcerated on an island in the middle of a loch with no food and water, before the dog was subsequently given the same punishment.”
READ MORE: Locals 'insulted' as pub changes name due to 'racist connotations'
It adds that the dog’s “loyalty, determination and grit” led to the term Black Bitch becoming popularised, with an associated image having been “depicted on Linlithgow’s ancient burgh seal as far back as 1296”.
The MPs used the motion to call “on the brewing conglomerate Greene King to abandon plans to change the name of the tavern in a misguided attempt at virtue signalling, and instead recognise the nation’s history and culture”.
A petition started by locals to have the pub keep its historic name has so far garnered more than 7500 signatures.
Former First Minister Alex Salmond has also waded into the controversy, saying: "Whoever they consulted on this silliness certainly wasn't local where the name Black Bitch is borne with pride as showing awareness and respect for Lithgae's rich history.
"The legend of the faithful black bitch is woven into the Royal Burgh's tradition and has no association whatsoever with racism or sexism, just Lithgae-ism. To suggest otherwise is deeply insulting."
Salmond (above) has suggested that Greene King consider changing its own name as the company founder, Benjamin Greene, was involved in the slave trade.
Greene claimed compensation after slavery was abolished for more than 200 slaves he had owned across multiple Caribbean islands.
Salmond added: "I have suggested to Nick Mackenzie, Greene King managing director, that his company should understand that the battle against racism is about respect and that you don't advance that cause by disrespecting local communities.
"They should instead redouble their efforts in inclusive employment and supporting anti-racist causes not gratuitously insult an entire town."
The locals who have called the protest for Saturday afternoon have penned a song about the incident, to be sung to the tune of the Elvis Presley hit Hound Dog.
It goes:
You ain’t callin her a hound dog
That is not her name ( x2)
She’s the Lithgae Black Bitch
Yeah, she’ll ayeways be the same
You said her name was racist
Well, that was just a lie
You said you’d replace it
Well, that was just a lie
You ain’t never gonna change her, no, no matter how you try
CHORUS
Our bitch, she is high class
The symbol of our town (x 2)
Our bitch is faithful and she never lets us down
CHORUS
You ain’t messin with our history
You ain’t messin with our home (x 2)
Greene King, you ain’t welcome, so leave us all alone
Greene King's CEO Mackenzie said previously: "This is an important decision to take but we feel strongly that it is the right one.
"We are well aware of the pub's history and where the name originates and so we are choosing a new name that still reflects the pub's history and will look to retain the coat of arms and images on the pub's sign."
A planning application has been submitted to the council to change the name on the pub sign.
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