It's up to you to get rid of 'budgie with a smirk'
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
ORGANISERS of a competition to design a county flag for Sutherland are to go to a public vote following widespread criticism of the winning design chosen by a 11-strong selection panel this year.
The shortlist of designs from the original competition is to be publicly revealed and votes invited from Sutherland residents.
The move follows months of silence from the Lord Lieutenancy, members of which were taken aback by the strength of feeling against the winning design.
Opponents took to social media in droves to voice their disgust at the image of a swooping eagle on a yellow and red background with three stars or mullets, although it did have its supporters.
It was labelled a budgie with a smirk and compared to a Mongolian third division football team banner. Critics said they would be embarrassed to have the flag represent the county.
Rogart resident Leslie Sharp launched a petition against the flag and it was signed by more than 900 people.
At the time the Lord Lieutenancy said the red and gold colours featured on the flag had been associated with the Earls of Sutherland since the 12th century and the eagle, a bird of prey, was to be found in the area.
But such was the furore it was decided to halt the process of registering the design with the Lord Lyon of Scotland as is required. However, the Flag Institute did list it as the county flag on its website, although that has now taken it down.
Instead the Lord Lieutenancy announced it was taking time out for a period of reflection.
That period appears to be at an end with the release of an official statement on behalf of the Lord Lieutenancy. The Flag Institute, which will help organise the new vote, stated: "In the interests of county unity, the Lord Lieutenant has ordered the Sutherland Flag Committee to put the shortlist of entries for the flag competition to a binding vote by the people of Sutherland.
"This follows the previously announced period of reflection that had been called for by the flag committee.
"During this time the flag committee received both messages of support and disapproval for the chosen design.
"In the light of this polarisation it was felt that the best option was to have the final decision chosen by public vote. The vote will include the original chosen design along with the other designs that were in the final contention for the judges vote.
"All these flags met the criteria for good flag design and met Lyon Court requirements.
"Having a vote on these finalists will mirror the process of other competitions elsewhere in Scotland – such as in Caithness and Tiree."
The statement added that planning for the vote was underway and further details would be made known as soon as possible.
A source close to the flag selection committee told the Northern Times this week that "lessons had been learned" over the debacle.
Protestor Leslie Sharp said: "It's great news that the flag selection committee have finally accepted that the people of Sutherland should indeed have a deciding vote but I worry that the committee will not have learned all the lessons.
"Maybe we should look to a wider field of designs that give people much more choice.
"To settle for variations of the "budgie with a smirk" would be the wrong direction to take and I think this would give rise to further criticism. I hope the selection committee have considered this.
"Whatever the outcome of the popular vote it is incumbent on all of us to accept it and move forward in our support for it.
"I look forward to participating in the public vote."
