GREEN Councillors in Glasgow have criticised the funding of the city’s official coronation events.
The council’s own budget is part-funding the two events held in Glasgow for the historic occasion, with the UK Government providing some financial support.
Money from the hospitality budget from the common good fund is going towards the Coronation Concert, held on Friday, May 5 and the Procession from George Square to the Cathedral on Sunday, May 7.
READ MORE: Coronation: Reaction after anti-monarchy protesters arrested
While hundreds of thousands are expected in London for the coronation at Westminster Abbey and the procession from Buckingham Palace, Glasgow has a more low-key approach but still has official events.
The Greens who have 10 councillors in the city are angered the Crown is paying nothing towards the costs of Glasgow’s celebrations.
Anthony Carroll, Glasgow Greens’ democracy spokesperson, said: “To have tax-payer money and Glasgow’s Common Good fund used to subsidise activities in honour of one of the richest men in the UK is a slap in the face while many people still face soaring food and energy bills in this cost of living crisis.
READ MORE: Subscribe to The National for alternative coronation coverage
“That should be the priority for the public purse right now, not celebrating hereditary power and privilege.
“If the King wants us to throw a party, he should use the cash he saved avoiding inheritance tax from his mother’s estate instead of draining Glasgow’s common good.
“The council also needs to have a good look at who benefits from its civic hospitality as it feels like too much is presently lavished on institutions which do not fully reflect the modern, diverse city which Glasgow is.”
Edinburgh councillors
Councillors in Glasgow aren’t the only ones to express their frustration at the coronation.
We previously told how the Greens group in Edinburgh lodged a motion to reject the Duke of Edinburgh’s title.
Co-conveners Alys Mumford and Ben Parker told The National it was “right” to question the links between the monarchy and Scotland’s capital city.
Recent polling has shown apathy towards the royal family is only increasing, with three-quarters of Scots showing little care towards either the family or the coronation.
Mumford added: “An increasing number of people are being alienated. We know that it (the coronation) doesn’t feel to people like something that matters amid the cost of living crisis to see this sort of pageantry and then to see that our city has been gifted as a birthday present to someone.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here