Scottish parliament staff banned from wearing rainbow lanyards and badges

Scottish parliament staff will no longer be allowed to wear rainbow lanyards or pins and badges at Holyrood that show support for social movements or campaigns.

The announcement follows a review of the code of conduct for Scottish Parliamentary Service (SPS) staff.

The ban will apply to Scottish parliament staff, not MSPs or their workers.

The move was confirmed in the chamber on Thursday by MSP Claire Baker, a member of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB).

Ms Baker said: “Corporate body staff must conduct themselves in an impartial manner.

“As an update, corporate body staff have until recently been allowed to wear personalised lanyards. This was introduced in 2017 as part of diversity inclusion strategy.

“However, a review of the code of conduct has just been completed.

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“A decision has been taken that all staff must wear the parliament-issued purple lanyard – staff who are employed by corporate body.

“This decision will help to minimise the risk of perceived bias and avoid any perception that wearing such items may be influencing our own decision-making.”

An email sent on Wednesday to Scottish parliament staff by Lorna Foreman, group head for people and culture, said the policy change would begin with immediate effect and all group heads are “expected to support this”.

The staff now must wear a parliament-issued purple lanyard and remove any pins or badges showing support for social movements and towards any campaigns or organisations.

Ms Foreman 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 SPS cannot be impartial when supporting the parliament to debate government policy, proposed new laws and current significant societal issues.

“This decision will help to minimise the risk of perceived bias and avoid any perception that wearing such items may be influencing our own decision-making.”

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Staff, however, can continue to wear a pronoun pin or badge.

Those who wear sunflower lanyards/pins/badges that indicate they have a disability can continue to do so but must also wear a purple lanyard.

Staff can also continue to wear pins such as “first aider” and badges that show they are Gaelic speakers.

Poppy badges in support of Poppy Scotland may be worn, which is in line with the parliament’s charities and fundraising policy.

Staff can also continue to wear pins and badges showing membership of a SPCB-recognised trade union.

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Ms Foreman accepted it will be “difficult for some colleagues” but the parliament remains committed to “creating a culture where all people feel safe, valued, included, and able to be their best at work”.

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.”

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