TWO SNP councillors were ordered to remove their pro-Independence badges ahead of a meeting last week.

Bill Herd (Galashiels & District) and Donald Moffat (Mid Berwickshire) had entered the Newtown chamber of Scottish Borders Council on Friday morning proudly sporting Yes badges on their lapels.

And although both complied when a council officer told them to remove them, Mr Herd made his feelings known when the meeting got under way.

He told the Police, Fire & Rescue Service and Safer Communities Board that it was “political correctness gone mad”.

A member of the press at the meeting was also told to remove a badge in relation to the forthcoming referendum, although he later received an apology.

“This was a mistake owing to a misinterpretation of the requirements on staff during 'purdah’ [when public bodies are curbed in the period leading up an election],” said an SBC spokesperson.

“In terms of the wearing of badges, etc, there are no restrictions on members of the public who are customers or visitors to council buildings.

“Our preference is for councillors, while representing SBC on a board or a committee making decisions for the council – such as Councillors Herd and Moffat on Friday – not to wear Yes or No badges in the period of purdah.” Last month, all SBC staff were told they must not “express or display” their referendum affiliations at work or in council vehicles.

That edict extends to employees outside working hours if they are wearing a council uniform or ID badge.