A FRAGMENT of the Stone of Destiny kept at the SNP’s headquarters should be displayed along with the ancient symbol of Scotland’s monarchy when it is moved to Perth Museum later this year, an MP has suggested.
The SNP’s Pete Wishart said the artefact should be “displayed in its entirety” when it moves from its current home in Edinburgh Castle.
The fragment is said to be a “very, very small” chip from the sandstone block, which has been used in ceremonies to crown Scottish monarchs for centuries.
Last week a mystery emerged after recently released Scottish Government documents revealed that, in 2008, former first minister Alex Salmond was given a fragment of the Stone of Destiny.
It was gifted by the late Sir Neil MacCormick whose father, leading SNP figure John MacCormick, had helped bankroll the daring venture by the Glasgow University students on Christmas Day 1950 to return the Stone to Scotland.
But the fragment was branded “missing” after Salmond subsequently said he did not know what became of the fragment and that it was not in his possession.
However The National exclusively revealed that a piece of the famous sandstone was being stored in the SNP’s HQ.
The SNP said the stone fragment has been held securely for the past 15 years and had never been considered lost, although its provenance has not been completely established.
Wishart, who represents Perth and North Perthshire, said: “The Stone of Scone is undoubtedly one of Scotland’s most iconic artefacts, and its arrival at Perth Museum will mark the first time it has returned to its home region in over 700 years.
“This will be a huge moment for Perthshire, not just symbolically, but economically too.”
He added: “In order to maximise the opportunity that the museum presents for the city, and to honour the stone’s long awaited return to the region, it is important for it to be displayed in its entirety.
“As such, I very much hope that the missing piece can be given to the museum ahead of its opening in March.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the First Minister’s official spokesman was asked about the fragment.
He said that in 2008 civil servants had advised there was no need to return the “very, very small fragment” to Historic Scotland, the keepers of the artefact, as they had not requested it.
The SNP said the party’s chief executive, Murray Foote, would respond to a letter from Wishart in due course.
A spokeswoman said: “The SNP has a small stone chip in storage.
“The fragment – gifted to the party by Professor Sir Neil MacCormick – has been held securely by the SNP for the past 15 years and has never been considered lost at any point.”
