Firm urged to remove lion rampant

Ms Grahame wants the firm to remove its lion rampant logo

An MSP has called on Pringle of Scotland to drop its lion rampant logo after it unveiled plans which could see it stop manufacturing in the Borders.

The company blamed difficult market conditions for the proposal which could see 80 jobs lost in Hawick.

SNP MSP Christine Grahame said the firm should now remove all reference to Scotland from its marketing materials.

She has lodged a parliamentary motion seeking the removal of the lion rampant from the company's products.

Pringle announced its proposals for the Hawick plant earlier this week.

The company has connections with the town dating back to 1815.

However, it said that due to the changing market it had to consider ceasing manufacturing in the area.

Ms Grahame said that meant it was "entirely inappropriate" for the company to use one of Scotland's oldest symbols when it had no "significant material presence" in the country.

It would be wrong to allow that reputation to be used only to maximise its profits when they no longer have any material investment in Scotland Christine Grahame SNP MSP

She said: "I don't see why a company which has benefited for generations from its association with Scotland should be allowed to continue using the national emblem of Scotland when it has made a decision, for purely profit reasons, to move manufacturing abroad."

She said the company should also be forced to remove the names Scotland or Scottish from future products.

"Our country enjoys a very good reputation for quality and integrity," she said.

"It would be wrong to allow that reputation to be used only to maximise its profits when they no longer have any material investment in Scotland or Scottish workers."

Ms Grahame has written to the UK Intellectual Property Office urging them to review the use of the Scotland name and lion rampant by Pringle.

A spokesman for Pringle said the company did not wish to respond to Ms Grahame's comments.

The company says it has invested heavily in the Borders plant in the past eight years.

Chief executive Douglas Fang said any decision to stop manufacturing in Hawick was not one the firm would take lightly.