SEVERAL SNP MPs wore white roses on their lapels during today’s King's Speech ceremony at Westminster.
The move sparked curiosity among eagle-eyed parliamentary viewers who asked why the group had donned the flowers.
It's not the first time the MPs have put the flowers on for the State Opening of Parliament.
Following last year's proceedings, Ian Blackford, the former SNP Westminster leader, explained the symbolic decision on Twitter/X.
Ready to go to the chamber for the Queens Speech, SNP members will be wearing white roses. “The rose of all the world is not for me. I want for my part only the little white rose of Scotland, that smells sharp and sweet-and breaks the heart” Words by Hugh MacDiarmid. pic.twitter.com/49oT2TEUsM
— Ian Blackford 🇺🇦🏴 (@Ianblackford_MP) May 10, 2022
The flowers link to Scottish poet Hugh MacDiarmid, who wrote the poem The Little White Rose.
The rose of all the world is not for me.
I want for my part
Only the little white rose of Scotland
That smells sharp and sweet—and breaks the heart.
MacDiarmid supported an independent Scotland and was a founding member of the National party of Scotland, a forerunner to the SNP.
He stood as a candidate for the SNP in 1945 and 1950, and also for the Communist Party. At one time he was the vice-chair of the SNP.
The poet and journalist, who died in 1978, had a major impact on Scottish culture and politics but remains a controversial figure. According to Professor Alan Riach, MacDiarmid is often misrepresented.
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