By Richard Wood
One of the first acts undertaken by newly elected MSPs after the election of Thursday 7 May is pledging allegiance to the monarch.
That this is still happening in 2026 is utterly absurd.
MSPs are elected by the people of Scotland to represent the people of Scotland. Having them pledge allegiance to an unelected monarch in modern Scotrish Parliament is something that needs to go.
What’s more, any MSP who declines is barred from participating in any proceedings and will not receive a salary or allowances until they comply. If they fail to do so within two months of being elected, they lose their MSP status.
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Last year one MSP tabled a motion calling for an end to the backwards practice, stating:
“That the Parliament commends Grenada’s reported decision to drop the oath of allegiance to the British crown and replace it with a pledge of allegiance to Grenada; recognises that the people of Scotland are sovereign, and believes that Scotland’s Parliament should have the power to follow Grenada’s lead and have its members pledge allegiance to the people of Scotland and not an unelected monarch.”
Scotland’s new MSPs should recognise that the monarchy has no place in modern Scotland. This pledge of allegiance needs abolished.
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