ADOPTING Flower of Scotland as the country's national anthem would bring people together in the wake of the divisive independence referendum, campaigners have said.
Chris Cromar, who launched a petition at Holyrood to have the Corries hit made Scotland's official song, told MSPs that the terrace favourite was not anti-English, despite its focus on historic military victories over the auld enemy.
He also denied that the lyric "we can still rise now, and be the nation again" was less relevant after Scots voted against their own independence in September.
Mr Cromar, a former member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said: "Flower of Scotland is known by the vast majority of Scots and is recognised by people across the world. It's been said that the song is anti-English and stuck in the past, however the lyrics of 'those days are past now, and in the past they must remain' show that the song is anything but.
"This is an important time in Scotland's history and I believe that this is the perfect time for the Scottish Parliament to legislate on an official national anthem for Scotland."
Other contenders, such as Robert Burns' Scots Wha Hae, should be discounted as their lyrics were not well known enough, the student said.
He added: "Flower of Scotland is a song that helps unite the nation. Scotland football fan Ian Pow summed this up before Scotland's first match after September's referendum when he said: 'There is nothing like hearing 50,000 people sing this song. The No vote in the referendum has nothing to do with it and I read the lyrics as meaning we can rise up and be a better nation, be more successful and victorious'.
"This comment shows that this song is about Scotland and brings people together regardless of their political beliefs or backgrounds."
MSPs on the committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government to ask whether it would consider undertaking a consultation on an official national anthem for Scotland.
Views will also be sought from the Scottish Rugby Union and Scottish Football Association as well as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, which ran a 2006 poll that found 41 per cent of people backed Flower of Scotland, written by the late Roy Williamson, as the national song.
Other potential national anthems that have been suggested over the years include Scotland the Brave, Burns' A Man's A Man for A' That and Dougie MacLean's Caledonia.
xref leader please
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