Scottish Parliament staff barred from wearing rainbow lanyards and badges

Staff at the Scottish Parliament will no longer be able to wear rainbow lanyards or badges, officials have said.

The move, which will see all personalised lanyards and badges relating to social causes banned for staff, has been taken to “minimise the risk of perceived bias”.

A review of the responsibilities of Scottish Parliamentary Service (SPS) staff concluded employees cannot wear lanyards, pins and badges as “a means of public and/or personal expression.”

All Holyrood staff must wear a Parliament issued purple lanyard and remove any pins and badges showing support for social movements and towards campaigns or organisations.

The shift in policy was announced by Labour MSP Claire Baker on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) in the chamber on Thursday.

In an email to staff on Wednesday, Holyrood’s head for people and culture Lorna Foreman said there had been accusations from groups that parliamentary staff could not be impartial during debates on Government policy while sporting symbols which could be perceived as supporting one side.

She said: “Wearing personalised lanyards and/or pins and badges showing support for social movements and towards campaigns or organisations has led some organisations and individuals to consider that the Scottish Parliamentary Service cannot be impartial when supporting the Parliament to debate Government policy, proposed new laws and current significant societal issues.”

A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: “This decision will help minimise the risk of perceived bias.

“It will also help avoid any potential misperception over the absolute impartiality of all Scottish parliamentary staff.”