Councillors have given permission for a march to take place on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile this summer.
During Tuesday’s licensing meeting, councillors considered an application for an “Orange March” on 27 June, with plans for the parade to use the high street.
Among the groups taking part is the Pride of the Rock flute band, which was criticised in 2024 for posts on social media celebrating Ulster Volunteer Force member, William Campbell.
The group, which operated as a paramilitary in Northern Ireland, is proscribed in the UK.
The applicant’s representative told councillors the event will involve somewhere in the region of 300 participants, and that it had taken place every year since 1902, excepting during Covid and the world wars.
He added that it would merge with a larger march happening in the city on the same day at some point along its route.
Green councillor Chas Booth asked: “So one of the bands listed is the Pride of the Rock flute band.
“Can I check they are the same Pride of the Rock flute band from Dumbarton, who have made statements on their social media in support of the infamous UVF terrorist, William ‘Big Bill’ Campbell?”
The respondent replied: “I cannot comment on the allegation you’ve made as to what they have or had on the website.
“I don’t accept the validity of your criticism, Mr Campbell is not a person who has anything to do with this. I believe he is deceased.”
He also claimed that Cllr Booth had expressed bias against people from Dumbarton and Glasgow at a previous licensing meeting.
Campbell was involved in the bombing of two Glasgow pubs frequented by Catholics in 1979, which injured five people.
He was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his participation in the acts. He was also believed to be involved in the bombing of a Belfast pub in 1971 which killed 15 people.
Cllr Booth asked a police representative present if having the band be involved raised any concerns for Police Scotland.
He replied that he could not comment without consideration.
Committee convener and Conservative councillor Joanna Mowat then asked council licensing solicitor Gerry Mays if it was competent for the committee to consider social media content when thinking about whether to proceed with issuing a notification for an event.
Mr Mays replied that councillors ‘in the strongest possible terms’ that they should not have regard for any social media content that was not included in the papers before the committee.
A wide range of demonstrations and marches for a variety of causes come before the committee, which usually meets monthly.
Cllr Mowat said: “I suspect, given the amount of marches that we have looked at, both this month and in previous months, that if we went through the social media accounts of participants, we may find things we didn’t like.
“The reality is, the way marches are managed is if [issues are present] on the day, police will deal with it on the day.”
She put forward a position of allowing the notification of the march to go ahead, while Cllr Booth put forward the position of deferring a decision to allow police to investigate the involved parties further.
Cllr Booth received no support for his motion, so the council did not object to the march going ahead.
There is a presumption that marches and demonstrations have permission to take place, and the reasons by which councils can deny them are quite limited.
By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter
