Council recognises Orange Lodge anniversary despite SNP misgivings

SNP councillors claimed the funding request from the Orange Lodge in Bellshill should be rejected because the organisation campaigned against independence in 2014

At a meeting of the council’s Civic Functions group, members discussed a request from Bellshill concerning Brother William Hazlett Loyal Orange Lodge 192, which is currently preparing to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Grand Orange Lodge in Scotland.

SNP councillors Lynne Anderson and Stephen Bonnar refused to support proposals to recognise the anniversary with a £500 award, claiming the organisation was “outdated” and “political”.

Councillor Anderson, who represents Stepps, Chryston and Muirhead, said: “The Orange Order were official participants in the 2014 independence referendum and I consider them a political entity.

“A great deal of their social media activity is clearly anti-SNP.”

The meeting was chaired by North Lanarkshire provost Jean Jones who explained that there was a long history of precedent with the council recognising festivities of this matter.

Councillor Bonnar, who represents Thorniewood, seconded Councillor Anderson’s objections, describing the Lodge as “outdated and outnumbered.”

He argued against precedent being the determining factor in whether such an award should be made.

Councillor Bonnar said: “Surely it comes to this board to agree each application on merit, rather than precedent. There are plenty of decisions which have resulted in politicians apologising 20 years down the line.”

Airdrie South’s Conservative councillor Sandy Watson questioned the idea that just being pro-union would necessarily win favour with the Orange Order.

He said: “I have stood for election in Airdrie, where there are large numbers of Orange Lodge supporters, and nobody voted for me.”

The committee voted in favour of granting the request by four votes to two with one abstention.