South Lanarkshire’s political leaders this week shared their thoughts and condolences on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
At this week’s full council meeting, representatives from each group passed on their respects to the Royal Family.
And they also observed a minute’s silence to reflect Her Majesty’s service.
Provost Margaret Cooper spoke first, and thanked the Queen for her dedication.
She said: “Colleagues, this is the first meeting of the full council since the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II So I would like to take this opportunity to both acknowledge our council’s thanks to Her Majesty for her decades of dedicated public service and also to note formally our condolences to her family and in part to the new monarch King Charles III.
"I know there will be different views about the monarchy held by elected members at this meeting but I don’t think anyone could dispute the dedication of Queen Elizabeth to our country.
“She took the throne at the tender age of just 25 years and for the 70 years and 214 days of her reign she rarely ever put her foot wrong. To many across the world, the Queen epitomised Great Britain, she was a calm figure who provided stability in times of crisis.
“She also had a clear love for Scotland and was there to open the Scottish Parliament in 1999. How appropriate that on that day she presented the new parliament with its mace – bearing the words ‘wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity’. These words were chosen to inspire our parliamentarians but as we reflect now on the life of the Queen we can agree that she herself had those four qualities in greater abundance.”
Council Leader Joe Fagan spoke on behalf of the Labour group. He said: “Throughout her 70 year reign the Queen has been a constant presence in the life of the country and Commonwealth, most of us have never known another monarch until now.
“Countless people will feel her absence but also gratitude for the time she gave. Throughout her reign, the Queen made a number of visits to South Lanarkshire. I think it’s important to remember that these visits were always to celebrate what had been achieved in South Lanarkshire and by our people, it was royal recognition for our communities. Her visit to New Lanark was cause to celebrate the village’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the enormous efforts undertaken to secure that status.
“The events of the past few days have been unprecedented. As leaders in our community, our words and actions can have a real consequence in what one commentator described as a tender moment for the country. I trust that we as a council have the maturity to recognise that not everyone in our community relates to the monarchy in the same way. And it’s surely a measure of regard in which the Queen was held that so many of those who do not relate to the monarchy or its traditions could hold her in such esteem.
“I trust we will also have the sensitivity to recognise that for others in our community that this loss will be felt particularly deeply, there are people feeling a very profound sense of grief and loss and there are those whose experience of the recent public period of mourning reminds them of bereavement and loss in their own lives.
“On behalf of the Labour group and of this administration I’d like to extend our condolences to the Royal Family and to all those Queen Elizabeth leaves behind.”
Depute leader of the SNP group, councillor Maureen Chalmers, said: “Condolences to His Majesty King Charles, his brothers and sister and the wider Royal Family. The loss of a mum, granny and great granny is devastating and our thoughts are with the family.
“I hope they find some time to grieve in private following the period of public mourning. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II dedicated her whole life to public service for more than 70 years. She visited South Lanarkshire many times, taking an interest in the work of many local organisations, as well as our institutions. Many of our residents will mourn her loss. She’s been a constant in many of our lives for as long as many of us can remember. May she rest in peace.”
Leader of the Conservative group, councillor Alex Allison, shared his thoughts and condolences:, saying “The passing of Her Majesty came as a shock to the majority of the nation. The Queen remained as dedicated and resolute to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in her final days as she had since pledging her life to the British people at the tender age of 21.
“Queen Elizabeth’s love for Scotland was well known and the fact she chose to spend her last days here is testament to that . Indeed she visited many towns in South Lanarkshire during various decades of her reign such as Hamilton, Larkhall, East Kilbride, Bellshill and the Royal Burghs of Rutherglen and Lanark. Such visits gave the local people memories that I’m sure they will carry with them to this day and a sense of pride that the reigning monarch visited the town that they lived.
“Her Majesty’s 70 years of dedication and devotion are unmatched in modern times, it’s safe to say her sovereignty was one constant we got to know throughout our entire lives. She has served not only as our monarch but as a shining example of decorum and unity not only in times of sorrow but in times of celebration.
“Her Majesty and her legacy will live on not only through King Charles III, her son, but through us, people who better themselves by working with their community, supporting those in need and coming together not only in times of tragedy but in celebration. I’d like to take this opportunity to not only give our sincerest condolences to His Majesty the King and the Royal Family and once again to thank Her Majesty for fulfilling her promise for life long service.”
Leader of the Liberal-Democrats group, councillor Robert Brown said: : “I’d like to thank Queen Elizabeth for her lifetime of service not just to the country alone but to the many voluntary organisations which she supported of which she was the patron. A number of speakers have made the point that she visited not just parts of the country but many parts of South Lanarkshire, like the Royal Burgh of Rutherglen. One of the organisations in which she was patron was the Scout group which provided 96 volunteers to assist with the arrangements in London, including Graham Hamilton from the 1131 Scout group in Burnside.
“I also wanted to note the Queen’s last legacy. It’s curious that the Queen’s death in Scotland and the funeral shone a spotlight like no other on our country. In addition, perhaps it gives us the sense of national unity which we don’t always have.”
Councillor Kristen Robb, leader of the Greens, said: “I’d like to just echo the words of the provost and many other people who have spoken today, recognise the Queen’s long service and we offer our condolences to the family and all people feeling grief at this time.”
A suitable letter will be drafted with the contents of the leader’s words and sent to the palace to represent South Lanarkshire Council’s condolences to the Royal Family.
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