The Saltire will no longer be flown daily at North Ayrshire's HQ following a vote in the council this week.

A motion was put forward by an Irvine Conservative Councillor to have both the Saltire and the Union Jack flying together on Wednesday's full council meeting

However after an amendment from Labour there will now be no flags flown at Cunninghame House, excluding certain special occasions when both will be flown.

Irvine West Councillor Scott Gallacher proposed that the council agrees to amend paragraph four of NAC's flag flying protocol to provide that on all days the Union Flag will be flown.

He added: “We have had numerous emails asking why the flag is not always flying outside this building.

“I'm not trying to have the Union Flag replace the Saltire outside this building I'm making an attempt to have both flags flying together.”

Irvine East Marie Burns made an amendment rejecting the motion, and asking NAC to keeping the current status quo.

She said: “I think it speaks volumes of the Tory representatives on the council that their first priority is a flag.

“This council has struggled to protect the people of North Ayrshire against the impact of Tory austerity, a policy that has wreaked havoc on many of our most vulnerable residents, and what do their newly-elected Tory Councillors have to say? At least you can see the Union Flag from Cunninghame House.

Irvine South Councillor Robert Foster highlighted austerity, crisis in healthcare and cuts to education, adding: “We could be debating any of these issue but instead we're debating a flag. 

“Which flag flies on which day won't make a difference on any these issues or make a difference to a single person's life in North Ayrshire." 

He then made an amendment to only fly flags on certain special occasions.

During debate, Councillor Robert Barr said: “We're gibbering on about flags here, but one flag is missing, the Lion Rampant, the true Scottish flag. Put the three of them up, simple as that.

Councillor Ian Murdoch said he would abstain in the vote, adding: “I'm so embarrassed we're even debating this.”

The vote was split 10/10 between Cllr Gallacher's motion and Cllr Burns amendment, so it went to the cutting of the cards to determine the decision.

Councillor Gallacher won with Five of Clubs, with Burns' Three of Diamonds. Councillors then went on to vote on Robert Fosters amendment, that neither flag flag be flown daily.

With the SNP abstaining, 11 Labour councillors voted for the amendment with Conservatives and three Independents making 10 votes for the motion.

The amendment was carried and the Saltire has been taken down as of Thursday morning.