Highland Council rejects plans for World Cup bank holiday

Highland councillors have chosen to reject the World Cup bank holiday for its staff, which was proposed for the day after Scotland’s opening game in June.

The decision was made amid claims it would be “selfish and irresponsible”, according to the leader of the opposition, councillor Alasdair Christie (Inverness Ness-side).

At Thursday’s meeting of the corporate resources committee, due to “most” of the private sector not getting the same treatment and potentially losing money on childcare costs or having to take the day off, cllr Christie pointed out.

The decision will mean Monday, June 15, will be a normal working day for everyone at Highland Council unless booked off via normal methods and “unauthorised absences will be dealt with through the normal disciplinary procedure”.

Highland now joins Moray, Orkney, City of Edinburgh, Falkirk and Fife in its decision to reject the formally declared national holiday to celebrate or commiserate, Scotland’s opening match against Haiti at 2am GMT on Sunday, June 14.

The 2026 tournament will be the first time Steve Clarke’s men’s side has qualified for the finals of the World Cup since 1998.

Independent councillor Morven Reid (Culloden and Ardersier) said she found people were “appalled” by the idea, given that the match itself finished on the Sunday.

She added: “If someone is that passionate about a game of football, they can organise a day off themselves.”

Thurso and Northwest Caithness Councillor Struan Mackie (Liberal Democrats) agreed with Cllr Reid, telling the chamber he booked his flights and annual leave “as soon as that third goal went in”.

Adding: “If this were a budget line, we would not have passed this at budget.”

The cost to the council if they had allowed the holiday would have stood at some £150,000.