First Minister John Swinney: 'I won't have the Saltire redefined by anyone else'

First Minister John Swinney says he won’t have the Saltire “redefined by anyone else” amid ongoing anti-immigration protests in Scotland.

In recent months, anti-immigration campaign groups have raised the national flag across Scotland as part of a UK-wide protest called “Raise the Colours”.

The raising of the flags has coincided with demonstrations against housing asylum seekers in hotels.

Stand Up To Racism have launched counterprotests at a number of events.

Police Scotland have made a number of arrests at protests in recent months.

Local authorities in Aberdeenshire and Falkirk among others have removed the flags on safety grounds, while other councils have discouraged residents from putting them up.

Council staff have allegedly faced abuse and threats when removing them.

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Saltires were attached to street lighting as part of a national protest called ‘raise the colours’, which coincided with demonstrations against asylum hotels.

In an interview with STV News, Swinney said: “I’ve always felt the Saltire is a flag of welcome and inclusion in Scotland and that’s how I’ve always felt about it.

“I think that’s how most people feel about it.

“I certainly think that’s how most people waving the Saltire at the Scotland game last night felt about it as well. That’s what matters to me.

“I won’t have it redefined by anyone else.”